Daily Answer Writing for UPSC –17th August 2023

Daily Answer Writing for UPSC 17th August 2023: UPSC aspirants continue their dedicated journey of daily answer writing. This practice remains a cornerstone of their preparation strategy, fostering critical thinking, effective communication, and comprehensive understanding of subjects.

With each response crafted, candidates further refine their ability to dissect complex issues, offer nuanced perspectives, and succinctly convey their ideas. Here we will discuss questions about Daily Answer Writing for UPSC on 17th August 2023 that will help you to prepare for the UPSC Exam.

Question: Critically assess the challenges posed by climate change and erratic rainfall patterns in the context of the Cauvery River water sharing dispute. (150 words)

The water sharing dispute of the Cauvery River involves conflicting claims among Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Puducherry. This dispute is driven by competing demands for irrigation, industry, and domestic use, further complicated by unpredictable rainfall patterns and historical agreements, resulting in tensions and legal battles. The challenges arising from climate change and erratic rainfall patterns have a significant impact on the Cauvery river water sharing dispute, further exacerbating an already complex situation.

1. Water Scarcity and Variability: Climate change leads to irregular rainfall patterns, causing prolonged droughts and reduced water availability in the Cauvery basin. This scarcity intensifies competition for water resources among the states, escalating conflicts over water-sharing arrangements.

2. Unpredictable Rainfall: Erratic rainfall disrupts historical water inflow patterns into the Cauvery river system. This unpredictability makes it difficult to plan water allocations and releases between the states, leading to disputes over deviations from agreed-upon sharing norms.

3. Reduced Water Flow: Rising temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns result in reduced glacier melt and snowfall in the Cauvery catchment areas, impacting overall water flow. This reduction affects water availability for all stakeholders, further intensifying the disputes.

4. Impact on Agriculture: Agriculture heavily relies on water from the Cauvery river. Climate change-induced shifts in rainfall patterns adversely affect crop yields and water requirements, putting pressure on states to secure their water allocations for sustaining agricultural activities, leading to disputes.

5. Economic and Social Impacts: Climate change disrupts the livelihoods of people dependent on the Cauvery basin, impacting industries, fisheries, and other economic activities. This adds socio-economic pressures and intensifies the demand for water resources.

6. Adaptation Challenges: Addressing climate change impacts requires coordinated efforts among the riparian states. Adapting to changing water availability and designing resilient water management systems are complex tasks that necessitate collaboration and long-term planning.

7. Legal and Institutional Challenges: Existing water-sharing agreements and legal mechanisms may not adequately address the challenges posed by climate change. Adapting legal frameworks to address uncertainties and changing circumstances can be difficult and time-consuming.

8. Resource Conflicts: As water resources become scarcer, conflicts may escalate, leading states to take unilateral actions such as constructing dams or reservoirs without consulting other stakeholders. Such actions escalate tensions and disrupt existing agreements.

9. Interstate Relations: Climate change impacts strain interstate relations as states strive to secure their water resources. Inability to effectively manage these challenges can lead to breakdowns in communication and cooperation among the states.

To tackle these challenges, a comprehensive approach is essential, including adaptive water management strategies, improved data-sharing mechanisms, joint efforts in climate change adaptation, and updated legal frameworks that consider changing climatic conditions. Collaborative decision-making, communication, and cooperation among the riparian states are crucial to ensure equitable water allocation and mitigate potential conflicts arising from climate change impacts on the Cauvery river basin.