Southern states back Shah's call for dialogue on water disputes as delimitation concerns dominate zonal meet

While reservations over delimitation and political representation additionally dominated the 31st session of the Southern Zonal Council, southern states on Thursday backed Union Home Minister Amit Shah's call for dialogue to resolve pending inter-state water disputes.

Key points

• The Southern Zonal Council comprises Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Keralam, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, along with the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
• Delimitation emerged as another major matter at the gathering, with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu stressing the need to maintain the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats for another 25 years.
• Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka sought protection of the state's rights over Krishna river waters and Central backing for major irrigation projects.
• He advocated linking major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Cauvery and Godavari, saying the initiative could support ensure that India faced no water shortage for the next 100 years.
• Nevertheless, Tamil Nadu's minister stated the Cauvery water-sharing dispute and matters relating to the Cauvery Tribunal were not discussed during the council session.

Chairing the session, Shah called on the early resolution of water-related disputes through joint meetings involving the Union Ministries of Jal Shakti and Home Affairs, the Inter-State Council and the states concerned.

Shah remarked protecting the interests of individual states was not wrong, but went on that such reservations should not leave states deprived of water for years while it ultimately flowed into the sea.

He advocated linking major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Cauvery and Godavari, saying the initiative could support ensure that India faced no water shortage for the next 100 years. River interlinking, he remarked, could additionally create waterways, reduce fuel consumption and provide a cost-effective mode of transport.

Shah remarked five of the eight major river-water sharing disputes in north India had persisted since the pre-British era, but a final agreement had been reached on the last of these five months ago. Resolving all the disputes, he remarked, had assisted create a "dispute-free" north India.

He described the southern states as "pillars" of India's progress, saying water was central to agriculture, industry, public health and the environment in the region.

Meanwhile, the Southern Zonal Council comprises Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Keralam, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, along with the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. It provides a forum for resolving problems between the Centre and the member states and UTs.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar pressed the council to adopt a resolution calling on the Centre to apply the 1971 Census for delimitation, retain the 543-seat strength of the Lok Sabha for 25 years and accommodate women's reservation within the existing seats.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay conveyed the state's reservations to Shah, with state minister R Nirmal Kumar saying Tamil Nadu wanted the existing freeze on Lok Sabha seats at 543 nationally and 39 in the state to continue.

Kumar remarked Tamil Nadu had expressed concern that southern states could lose political representation under a population-based reallocation of seats, arguing that states that had successfully controlled population expansion should not be penalised.

Notably, the proposed Mekedatu dam, a longstanding point of contention between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, additionally figured in the discussions.

Shivakumar remarked he assured Tamil Nadu, in Shah's presence, that its interests would be protected if the reservoir was constructed. While the remaining water would be shared with Tamil Nadu, he remarked, karnataka would retain five TMC ft of water for drinking water supply.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu proposed a bullet train corridor connecting Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu through Kuppam, along with a transit network linking Amaravati, Bengaluru and Chennai.

Naidu stressed that cooperation, coordination and mutual trust between the Centre and states were essential to resolving inter-state problems and accelerating regional development.

Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan raised the Mullaperiyar dam matter and called on cooperative federalism in healthcare, infrastructure, environmental protection and regional security.

Satheesan remarked Kerala was willing to provide Tamil Nadu its full share of water from a new Mullaperiyar dam. While Kerala would bear the entire cost, under the proposal, Tamil Nadu would undertake the design, identify the location and construct the new dam.

While Kerala has argued that a higher water level could pose risks to individuals living downstream in the event of a breach and has sought the decommissioning of the existing structure, tamil Nadu has maintained that the existing Mullaperiyar dam is safe.

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka sought protection of the state's rights over Krishna river waters and Central backing for major irrigation projects. He additionally offered to host the next Southern Zonal Council gathering in Hyderabad.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana additionally agreed to resolve pending matters concerning the division of assets and liabilities through consultations with the Union Home Ministry.

As Chief Minister N Rangasamy was absent, puducherry was represented by Lieutenant Governor K Kailashnathan. Kailashnathan sought the Centre's and neighbouring states' backing, particularly Tamil Nadu's, to develop an integrated surface-water system for reliable year-round supply, identifying water security and drinking water as key worries for the Union Territory.

For now, southern states back Shah' s call for dialogue on water disputes as delimitation remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.