River linking: No immediate danger signals

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After the Mullaperiyar issue, the Pampa-Achencoil-Vaipar river linking project has put the state in yet another difficult situation. Though there is no immediate threat to the state’s interests as water is listed in the Concurrent List and nothing can be imposed unilaterally.The undercurrents are bound to gain an inevitable echo and  political dimension since people are fast experiencing that though the state is blessed with ample seasonal rains,it is not actually water rich on an annual scale.If the proposed river linking project is implemented, it is certain that it would lead to destruction of riverine ecosystems and depletion of water resources, leading to acute drought in Central Travancore and also the water balance of fragile Kuttanad wetland system would face severe threats.The political question is how long the state can hold ground in future, especially when the proven assertiveness of Tamil Nadu’s regional politics in the national mainstream is taken into account.Kerala’s claim is that it has not given its assent to the interlinking of rivers and as such, the recent Supreme  Court order to constitute a committee for expediting the scheme for 16 linkages across the country is not binding on it. The Assembly had passed a unanimous resolution in 2003 itself denouncing the linkage scheme. “We are not party to the scheme anyway. Hence the judgment is not binding on us,” said Water Resources Minister P J Joseph. “It had been made clear in the judgment itself that the state is not covered in its purview,” said Chief  Minister Oommen Chandy.“Also,since the west flowing Pampa and Achencoil rivers are not inter-state, the state need not worry much,” said Finance and Law Minister K M Mani.  The state would be eligible to present only officials in the Supreme Court directed committee, whereas Tamil Nadu and most other states in the country which had given as ent to the linkage scheme could have a political representation through ministers. “The UDF Government is handling the issue in an irresponsible manner,” said former Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran. “The LDF Government had assigned an eminent lawyer like Harish Salve to argue the case for the state, now it has been vested with a relatively junior government pleader,” he criticised. With water considered to be a contentious topic in the years ahead according to predictions and the political leadership in Kerala, unlike in Tamil Nadu,seemingly dithering  to rise to the occasion by always displaying divergent views for obvious reasons, it may not be a smooth ride for  Kerala in the river linkage project issue,in future,it is feared.