Water allocation policies in coastal Karnataka: an analysis of Nethravathy River Basin

The paper to looks at the water allocation policy follow in coastal Karnataka. The state water policy accords top priority to drinking water followed by irrigation, power generation through hydroelectric projects, agro industries, industries and transport. However, there is a mismatch in the policy and its implementation. The analysis of the information and data shows that there are negative social and ecological impacts on the livelihood of the farmers and fisher folk because of poor implementation of these policies. Karnataka Agricultural Policy - 2006 is focused on doubling the agricultural production in the next decade with the aim of achieving a 4.5% growth rate for the agriculture sector and a subsequent increase in the net income of the farmer. Simultaneously, the Karnataka government is planning to set up a PCPIL (petroleum, chemicals and petrochemical investment region) in Dakshin Kanadda (DK) and set up MSEZ near Mangalore as a precursor to the PCPIL project. The area selected for setting up the petrochemical zone comprise villages which are currently involved in agriculture, horticulture and fisheries. The establishment of PCPIL and MSEZ are likely to increase the pressure on the Nethrawathy and Gurupur river basins and cause serious degradation of the marine ecology of the region adversely affecting fist yields. The proposed project is similar to the Reliance petrochemicals project in Jamnagar, Gujarat, which has had serious implications for the welfare of the villages displaced and the ecology. The paper tries to analyses and point out ways in which DK and Mangalore region are likely to be affected because of the proposed petrochemical development. The state has pursued and implemented the water policy contrary to the suggestions from expert recommendations. This is likely to lead to negative impacts on the livelihood of the local communities.Length: pp.558-568