1.Karnataka Sambhrama 50 begins
Context:
- As part of the ‘Golden Celebration’ marking the 50th anniversary of Karnataka’s integration,
- The Department of Kannada and Culture is organizing a large-scale program showcasing the state’s Nadu (land), Nudi (language), and culture.
- This event will take place across four revenue divisions of Karnataka, including:
- Mysore, Belgaum, Bangalore And Gulbarga
- A cultural program titled ‘Honna Bittevu’ will be organized to highlight the unique aspects of each region in four conventions
Unification of Karnataka or Karnataka Ekikarana:
- The Sangha was started by R H Deshpande who strove for the revival of Kannada in a region which was part of the Bombay Presidency
- the Ekikarana movement including Aluru Venkata Rao were from northern parts of Karnataka.
- It was started in the year of In Dharwad, ‘Karnataka Ekikarana Sabha’ was established in 1916.
The formation of the Indian state of Karnataka (then named Mysore State) in 1956
2.Mekedatu project
Context:
- Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has expressed concerns that the Meredatu Reservoir Project may benefit Tamil Nadu more than Karnataka, particularly in years of distress.
- He voiced his opinion while offering ‘bagina,’ the traditional thanksgiving ceremony, to the Cauvery River at the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) Reservoir near Mysuru.
- The KRS had recently reached its maximum level of 124.8 feet.
What is Mekedatu Project?
- The Mekedatu project is a multipurpose project involving the construction of a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district, Karnataka.
- Mekedatu, meaning goat’s leap, is a deep gorgesituated at the confluence of the rivers Cauvery and its tributary Arkavathi.
- Its primary objectives are toprovide drinking water to Bengaluru and neighboring areas, totaling 4.75 TMC, and generate 400 MW of power.
Historical Background:
- As the river originates in Karnataka, flows through Tamil Nadu with major tributaries coming from Kerala and drains into the Bay of Bengal through Pondicherry the dispute therefore involves 3 states and one Union Territory.
- The two agreements of arbitration in 1892 and 1924 between the then Madras presidency and Mysore.
- The Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu began in 1974 when Karnataka started diverting water without Tamil Nadu’s consent.
- After several years, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT)was established in 1990 to resolve the issue.
- It took 17 years for the CWDT to reach a final order in 2007
- In 2018, the Supreme Court declared the Cauvery a national asset and largely upheld the water-sharing arrangements determined by the CWDT.
- In June 2018, constituting the‘Cauvery Water Management Authority’ and the ‘Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’.
