(3) Why did you keep quiet all these years when there were problems about Cauvery for last several decades? Is this a new attempt to divert people’s attentions?

Cauvery issue has been going on for several decades. If one makes a simple Google search, it is clear that:

- People have been terribly affected by the Cauvery water issue

- Political parties have only made protests and conducted rallies

- Violence has erupted in both Karnataka and Tamilnadu over the Cauvery water distribution

- Both the states of Karnataka and Tamilnadu have been stubborn on their stance related to Cauvery water

Yet, after all these years, no constructive solution has come out for solving this issue. Sadhguru has spoken about Cauvery issue in 2017 also:

https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/wisdom/article/sustainable-solution-kaveri-dispute

https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/wisdom/video/solution-kaveri-situation-2

https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/wisdom/article/depletion-indias-rivers-problems-solutions

The most affected people in this whole issue are the farmers in both the states. Sadhguru has been working to bring together the farmers from both Karnataka and Tamilnadu to help bridge the issues between them and bring them to a common forum for solving the problem.

The main problems with Cauvery are:

- Cauvery has depleted 40% in the last 70 years

- Almost half the Cauvery basin suffers critical groundwater depletion

- 87% of the basin’s original tree cover has been lost

- During the summer, Cauvery is unable to reach the ocean. A desolate, sandy bed is all that millions of people see for many months of the year

This Cauvery Calling initiative aims to revive River Cauvery along with alleviating the distress of farmers.

The solution lies in replenishing the soil. If we can replenish the soil’s nutrients and carbon content, it will once again turn fertile, absorb rainwater, and feed Cauvery. This will revive the river ecology and also improve the farmer’s economic situation.

Key actions proposed as part of this Cauvery Calling project are:

- Moving farmers to take up agro-forestry along with their regular agricultural practices

- Improving farmer incomes by increasing economies of scale

- Increasing plantation cover on Cauvery bed to enrich soil organic content and water retention in Cauvery

- Working with Governments to help support the farmers in a scientific manner

So, instead of politicizing this, every concerned party should stand up for this noble cause and support it.