Letter.

LetterPublished in TheNational UAE on29Sep 23 River disputes in India need closure I write in reference to Taniya Dutta's article Indian farmers protest at plan to transfer river water to neighbouring state (September 26): I can appreciate the plight of the farmers in the Indian state of Karnataka who have called for a strike against the recent decision to release 5,000 cubic metres of water daily from the Cauvery River to neighbouring Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days. I can also understand the need for Tamil Nadu to receive its fair share of water. But this dispute has been going on for decades, and no government – state or federal – has been able to resolve it. The one ray of hope is that the political parties running the two state governments are partners in the so-called INDIA alliance. Might they not have the political incentive to resolve the dispute ahead of the 2024 general election? As climate change makes water an ever more precious commodity, it is time for all the stakeholders to come together and arrive at a lasting and amicable settlement. K.Ragavan, Bengaluru,India