VZCZCXRO9157
OO RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCG #0100/01 0371101
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061101Z FEB 07
FM AMCONSUL CHENNAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0634
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 2262
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1302
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0709
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 4972

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENNAI 000100 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, CA/OCS, DS/IP/SCA, DS/DSERCC, DS/ITA AND 
DS/OSAC 
 
NEW DELHI FOR POL, RSO, FCS, DAO, ODC AND CONS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KWWT ASEC CASC SOCI KCRM ECON IN
SUBJECT: BANGALORE CALM AFTER CAUVERY RIVER WATER VERDICT 
 
REF: A) CHENNAI 52  B) CHENNAI 31 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Bangalore remained calm on February 6 following an 
interstate river water tribunal verdict on February 5 over a 
long-simmering dispute involving the sharing of water that flows 
through the southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Perceived 
injustice in Karnataka sparked impromptu demonstrations across the 
state on February 5.  Mission personnel currently in Bangalore to 
support the USG presence for Aero India 2007 air show were 
unhindered and most city businesses functioned normally.  There were 
no reports of American citizens being caught up in the 
demonstrations.  A strong police presence and clear orders from the 
government ensured law and order. The verdict may provide a new 
framework through which interstate river water disputes could be 
settled.  End summary 
 
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Karnataka perceived as loosing its share of river water 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) In a decision more than 17 years in the making, the Cauvery 
Water Dispute Tribunal gave its "final" verdict on February 5, 
allocating 419 Thousand Million Cubic Feet (TMCFT) of the estimated 
750 TMCFT that flows through the river Cauvery to Tamil Nadu. 
Karnataka on the other hand was allocated 270 TMCFT.  The award, 
however, reduces the quantum of water that Karnataka must release 
from its reservoirs to neighboring Tamil Nadu to 192 TMCFT, compared 
with 205 TMCFT required by the 1991 interim award. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Perceived injustice leaves parts of Bangalore tense 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶3. (SBU) Perceptions of injustice, especially among Kannada 
chauvinist and farmer groups such as the Kannada Senna and Karnataka 
Rajya Raitha Sangha, resulted in sporadic demonstrations in a few 
Bangalore localities on February 5.  Processions, road and rail 
blockades were the forms of protest adopted in the districts of 
Mysore, Mandya, and Chamrajnagar.  These were unorganized, however, 
and died down by evening when the media began reporting the nuances 
of the verdict.  Karnataka Chief Minister Kumaraswamy has scheduled 
an al- party meeting on February 6 at 1600 to discuss the verdict. 
Some political groups have proposed a state wide strike on February 
8 to protest the decision. 
 
---------------------------- 
Aero India: The Show goes on 
---------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) Mission personnel in Bangalore on February 5, to facilitate 
USG participation in the air show Aero India, were able to go about 
their business unhindered.  With the disturbances restricted to a 
few localities, Mission personnel accessed the Indian Air Force base 
at Yelahanka, the show's venue, without difficulty.  Embassy 
officers in the city also went through their separate schedules 
without any problems.  Shops and businesses closed early, however, 
as did schools and college,s more as a precaution than due to real 
violence. 
 
---------------- 
US Citizens safe 
---------------- 
 
¶5. (U) U.S. citizen wardens in Bangalore confirmed to post's ACS 
Unit that violence and tensions are largely localized, with 
disruptions only for people who live in or pass through affected 
areas.  The U.S. Commercial Service's Bangalore branch office 
operated as usual. 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
Clear orders and strong police presence ensures order 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Anticipating tension, however, the state governments of 
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu put police personnel on alert. Karnataka 
went a step further and sought additional forces from Andhra Pradesh 
and Kerala, the other southern states. Clear orders were issued to 
the police to put down any violence in both states. All- party 
meetings called by the Karnataka Chief Minister ensured an early 
political consensus - likely affected by the need to preserve calm 
during Aero India --  that kept organized demonstrations off 
Bangalore's streets. Post will continue to monitor the situation and 
 
CHENNAI 00000100  002 OF 002 
 
 
will report further developments. 
 
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Bangalore Image Intact for Now; Verdict a possible model 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Comment: Although the situation remains fluid, so far the 
government of Karnataka has succeeded in controlling the 
on-the-street reaction to the water verdict, protecting for now the 
Bangalore "brand" recently tarnished by other outbreaks of violence. 
 On the technical side, irrigation experts in both Tamil Nadu and 
Karnataka hail the verdict as a just allocation of water resources 
and for naming an implementation authority. The verdict, they say, 
provides a framework through which other ongoing river water 
disputes throughout India between various states could be settled. 
By naming the Central Water Commission as the implementing 
authority, the tribunal has placed allocation of river water in the 
hands of the central government, altering the distribution of power 
between the center and the states.  Since other inter-state water 
related disputes may now be handled at the central government level, 
this could give rise to charges of Central political favoritism to 
states allied with the governing coalition by states that end up as 
losers in any future water sharing dispute. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) In terms of political fallout, this verdict has the 
potential to create problems for the Congress party in Karnataka. 
Many political analysts in Delhi opine that the verdict would be 
seen as a victory for the Congress party's UPA allies in Tamil Nadu 
and as a set back for the BJP/Janata Dal coalition in Karnataka. 
With the Congress Party on shaky ground in Karnataka, analysts 
expect the Party to be on the defensive if Karnataka were to go to 
polls in the near future.  End Comment. 
 
¶9. (U) This message was coordinated with Embassy New Delhi. 
 
HOPPER