CR Patil on water-sharing disputes: ‘When states are ruled by different parties…’

The minister was speaking at the Powering Bharat Summit 2025

Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil stated that inter-state water disputes often arise because political leaders and party figures push for allocations beyond what they are entitled to. “When states are ruled by different parties, the issue becomes more complex. Political leaders often demand more water than they are authorised to, which eventually creates an environment that if any commitment is made for less than that, then the people there become against it,” he said.

The minister was speaking at the Powering Bharat Summit 2025 organised by Network18 in collaboration with Moneycontrol, News18 India, and CNBC Awaaz.

Patil noted that while the government has no authority over the position taken by political parties, it is actively key development projects that fall under the Modi government’s jurisdiction – citing the Ken-Betwa project which is expected to be completed by 2030 as well as the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (PKC-ERCP).

The ERCP link project proposes to provide drinking and industrial water in 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan, Malwa and Chambal regions of Madhya Pradesh, according to a statement by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. An MoU was signed by the two states over this project last year. Meanwhile, the Ken-Betwa Link Project, with a cost of over 44,000 crore rupees, is expected to benefit millions of people in rural areas of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

When asked about the Cauvery water dispute and its possible resolution, Patil replied that the matter is still in progress. “It’s process is also going on. We are trying to find some solution as soon as possible,” he said.

Dating back to the late 1800s, the Cauvery water dispute stems from agreements between the princely state of Mysore (now part of Karnataka) and the Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu).

The modern-day states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have long been at odds, each seeking a larger share of the river’s water for agriculture and daily use.