‘When water begins to divide us, it becomes an acid that can tear apart brothers’

It is a matter of grave concern that the sharing of river waters, which is a national issue, is turning into rivalry between states driven by populist gains.

I am worried that a conflagration could consume our country. Water is an essential commodity, which arouses the deepest emotions among people, particularly our farmers. Oil is called the liquid gold of the modern age; water is the true liquid gold now. Some people say that in twenty years’ time, wars will be fought in the world over water, not oil. In our country, we have always considered water holy, pavitra; we worship our rivers because they give us life. I believe that it is our duty to use our vision to make water into a factor that unites our country. We know that when water begins to divide us, it becomes an acid that tears apart brothers. It was this concern that made us dream of a system by which the water basins of our country could be coordinated for the mutual benefit of everyone, so that water could be prevented from being wasted into the ocean. Some useful work was done by the Task Force headed by Shri Suresh Prabhu. The Task Force did create widespread awareness on the urgent need of water resources management in the country and the importance of interlinking of rivers as a means of a comprehensive approach to solve the problem. Unfortunately your government has wound it up at a time when emotions on the issue of water have risen alarmingly.

Everyone has a viewpoint on the sharing of river waters. Punjab has its needs; so do Haryana and Rajasthan. Every state, every political party has a right to take a stand in a democracy. That is not the issue. However, a democracy only functions by mutual consent, not by arbitrary action. Passions are building that need to be calmed immediately, before they burst into flames. I urge that all of us treat this as a national problem that could degenerate into a crisis, and seek amicable answers to dangerous questions. For this purpose I suggest that you urgently convene a meeting of the leaders of all political parties to evolve a consensual approach to sharing of river waters.

Since the issue covered in this letter vitally affects the fate of our country, I propose to release it to the media after it is delivered to your office.

With warm regards,

Yours sincerely,

A.B. Vajpayee