Punishing the Victims the Steady Erosion of the Anti-Dowry Law Will Endanger Countless Women in Genuine Distress

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NOIDA/DELHI THE HINDU 6 EDITORIAL SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 2017 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Punishing the victims The steady erosion of the anti-dowry law will endanger countless women in genuine distress

cruelty to women in their matrimo- ing and drains women of their re- nial home. Perversely, but predict- sources and resolve. Many just opt ably, the attention of the judges, for settlement out of sheer and indeed of a large section of so- frustration. Price of rapacity ciety, is directed solely towards the In 2013, the conviction rate for The Supreme Court has laid down alleged, perceived “misuse” of the rape was only 27.1%. Will the court section by “unscrupulous” wo- now liberalise the penal provisions jayanthi natarajan a benchmark for action against illegal mining men. Ironically, the concern is against rape? Money transactions n ordering that lease-holders should pay compensa- leavened by a crumb of concern are essentially only civil transac- n July 27, 2017, the Supreme about women, in this case the wo- tions. Yet, dishonour of a cheque is tion to the extent of 100% of the price of the quantum Court in Rajesh Sharma & Ors men who are “wrongly” arrested an oence under Section 138 of the Iof minerals they had illegally extracted, the Supreme Ovs State of U.P. & Aanr, dealt under Section 498A — the mothers Negotiable Instruments Act. The Court has gone beyond a mere armation of the ‘pol- another punishing blow to what and sisters-in-law. The judges ob- widespread misuse of this section luter pays’ principle. It has also set a signicant bench- has become a toothless anti-dowry serve that women who ought to use by usurious moneylenders and n- mark for stringent action against those who indulge in law. When rst enacted in 1961, the Section 498A as a shield are actu- ancial institutions has never been mining without environmental or forest clearance. law sought to protect women from ally using it as a weapon against publicly debated. The judiciary and Even the Central Empowered Committee had recom- being killed or tortured in their their unfortunate in-laws, going so civil society do not appear to ever marital homes by greedy husbands far as to say “this court earlier no- discuss misuse or “abuse” of other mended compensation to the extent of 30% of the value and in-laws. Thereafter, passionate ticed the fact that most of such laws and oences, although abuse of the iron ore and manganese ore illegally mined in advocacy by women’s rights activ- complaints are led in the heat of of any law is possible, and does in Odisha, but the court has been rm about not com- ists resulted in the insertion of Sec- the moment, over trivial issues”, fact happen. It is only when any law promising on the quantum of compensation. It is im- tion 498A of the Indian Penal Code, thus leading to “harassment of the relating to the empowerment of possible to dispute the court’s reasoning that the de- making the oence of dowry har- GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO accused”. This is a breathtaking as- women is enacted, that hysterical faulter or violator should bear the consequences of the assment cognisable and non-bail- 498A. Then followed the latest Su- come victims only if they die. While sumption, and not based upon any debate ensues about misuse of such illegality, and therefore cannot be allowed the benet of able, thereby bringing enormous preme Court judgment which has still alive, getting justice is a Sis- substantial research whatsoever, a law and the suerings of the relief to women who face virtually almost irretrievably diluted 498A yphean impossibility. nor do the judges quote such accused. “pocketing 70% of the illegally mined ore”. The mining insurmountable obstacles in the and rendered it nearly unreachable research. In a just society, a penal provi- companies tried every possible means of avoiding the public space, especially when tak- to victims. This judgment man- Subject of debate sion should be reviewed only after tag that they had illegally mined iron or manganese ore. ing complaints to the police or fa- dates a family welfare committee in The 2014 and 2017 judgments of the The story from data fully protecting the perspective of Some of them argued that they did not require environ- cing long-winded judicial proceed- every district to scrutinise dowry Supreme Court diluting Section In fact, the statistics cited by the the victim. A total of 24,771 dowry mental clearance as they had started operations prior ings. harassment cases. Members of this 498A are a compelling illustration judges lead to a contrary conclu- deaths have occurred in India from to 1994, when the Environmental Impact Assessment In a sense, Section 498A sought committee can be social workers or of the fact that in the discourse re- sion. They note the earlier observa- 2012 to 2014, averaging more than Notication was rst issued, and that unless there was to level the playing eld and further “anyone interested in the subject” lating to women’s issues, any move- tion of Justice C.K. Prasad that in 20 dowry deaths every single day. ensure the safety of women. How- and may also be paid an honor- ment which is even remotely pro- 2012 two lakh arrests were made Thus, Section 498A is not only rel- an expansion, they did not require environmental ever, as with all laws relating to wo- arium. The police are expected to gressive and seeks to empower under Section 498A, including evant but also vital for the protec- clearance. Some said “illegal mining” was limited to men, the patriarchal, self-fullling consider the recommendations of women immediately becomes the 47,951 women. Although tion of genuine victims. Alleged, mining activity outside the leased area, but the court argument that Section 498A had this committee before making any subject of erce controversy. Seven chargesheets were led in 93.6% of perceived, and sometimes even has rmly ruled that any excess extraction within the created a bunch of monstrous, dis- arrest. It is not dicult to predict decades after Independence, Par- the cases, the conviction rate was some genuine cases of misuse of leased area would also amount to unlawful mining. It gruntled women determined to how such committees will operate liament remains unable to pass the only 14.4%. Based on this, the this law should not endanger the has claried that every renewal of a mining lease would destroy family values and drag in- in our male-dominated districts. constitutional amendment man- judges conclude that the com- huge number of women who are in require such clearance, even if there is no expansion, nocent husbands and in-laws to jail The Supreme Court has also done dating 33% reservation for women plaints were frivolous and “trivial”. genuine distress. It is time to re- for their own nefarious purposes away with the need for the accused in Parliament. No other legislation The actual fact of the matter is that member that the object of the law modernisation or increase in the pollution load. began to dominate the discourse. to make a personal appearance in in the history of India, possibly the in 93.6% of the cases, the police — and democracy require that our The apex court has been passing a series of orders on court in addition to other forms of world, has been so ercely resisted notoriously unsympathetic to wo- suering women be protected and illegal mining activity, notably in Goa and Karnataka. It Gradual dilution relief. or pending for so long. Similarly, men — found the complaints not that safeguards for accused be has often voiced concern over the extent to which min- Following this, the rst attempt to Sadly, the victim remains ig- the impact of Section 498A, which worthy of chargesheets being led. constantly created. ing laws are being outed and how illegal mining is de- dilute Section 498A came from a nored in the judgment. As a result was admittedly enacted to ensure In other words, the complaints pleting the country’s natural resources. In this verdict 2014 judgment of the Supreme of these constraints, thousands of the safety of women in their matri- passed police scrutiny. Further, the as well, the court identied rapacious mining in Odisha Court which mandated a nine- genuinely distressed women will monial home, should have been as- low conviction rate of 14.4% is more Jayanthi Natarajan is a former Union point checklist before any arrests not be able to access justice. Wo- sessed to examine its eectiveness an indictment of the agonising judi- Minister and a political activist. The views as a cause for great concern. There appears to be no ef- could be made under Section men victims, it would appear, be- in preventing dowry deaths and cial process, which is time-consum- expressed are personal fective policy or eective check on mining operations, it has noted. In strong words, it has asked the Centre to re- visit its National Mineral Policy, 2008, which “seems to be only on paper and is not being enforced, perhaps Wages of being a legislator due to the involvement of very powerful vested in- terests or a failure of nerve.” It is clear that the country We need an external, independent body to determine parliamentary salaries is already paying a heavy price for its failure to regulate mining operations in an eective manner in several legislators get $74,500, which is 76 isterial salaries. Mature democra- representatives should be paid a times its per capita GDP. Kenya’s cies typically have separate inde- reasonable wage, which oers parts of the country. It has become a source for corrup- lawmakers have, in fact, taken this pendent bodies to establish gratitude for their commitment to tion, excessive exploitation of natural resources and a to an extreme, and in 2010, Prime parliamentary salaries; such as the life as a public servant. We need an scourge in the lives of forest dwellers and tribals. The Minister Raila Odinga was forced to Remuneration Tribunal in Aus- external, independent body to de- petitioners before the court had stressed on the prin- reject the pay increase awarded by tralia or the Independent Commis- termine parliamentary salaries. ciples of intergenerational equity, the responsibility of the country’s Parliament. Even in sion for the Remuneration of Pub- Self-regulation is simply not every generation to conserve resources with sub- feroze varun gandhi developed countries such as Italy, lic Oce Bearers in South Africa. enough. Salary reviews should be sequent generations in mind while exploiting nature. a skewed political culture can res- Given the current economic slow- conducted through an institution- he Tamil Nadu Assembly re- ult in high cost to the state when it down worldwide, about 23.8% of alised process. It’s not that MPs The court, understandably, has not set a limit for min- cently voted to double the comes to politicians. Italy pays $115 Parliaments in the IPU have actu- should not receive or expect incre- ing activities, but it has certainly agged some issues for Tsalaries of its legislators million annually for salaries for ally seen a reduction in salaries. ments, but such increments should those in power to bear in mind. against the backdrop of a group of 630 representatives in its Lower Consider the U.K. The basic an- be determined through a transpar- farmers from the State who are still House. An Independent Parlia- nual salary of a member of the ent and accountable process. But on protest in New Delhi demand- mentary Standards Authority, House of Commons is £74,962, one should not expect any salary Editing ourselves ing that the Centre announce a 2016 study shows that the gross GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO with MPs also receiving expenses increases, however large, to tackle drought relief package and loan salary of an Italian lawmaker is the compensation by 1,250% over the to cover the costs of running an of- the problem of corruption in our As scientists repair a genetic mutation in waiver for farmers from the State. second highest among developed last two decades — a case of ques- ce (£23,450–£26,100), employing Legislative Assemblies and Parlia- India paid ₹2.7 lakh a month, countries after the U.S., at 4.95 tionable moral rectitude. Ideally, sta (£141,400–£148,500), accom- ment — an individual’s moral bre an embryo, the ethical debate is revived which includes salaries and ex- times more than the average Italian such allowances should be in pro- modation allowance for living in combined with the enforcement of cientists have for the rst time managed to edit penses, to every Member of Parlia- wage. portion to the services that they London (£20,610) and in their con- existing regulations and laws de- ment in 2015. Maharashtra’s As- have rendered to the nation, but in stituency and travelling between termines what level of corruption genes in a human embryo to repair a genetic muta- sembly passed a Bill in 2016 that A start that faded the past two decades, Parliament Parliament and their constituency, prevails. Despite calls for perform- Stion, fuelling hopes that such procedures may one raised the monthly salary of its India’s initial start was promising. has seen less than 50% of Bills be- according to the MPs’ Scheme of ance-linked pay, linking salaries to day be available outside laboratory conditions. In res- MLAs to above that of the President The rst cabinet meeting of Jawa- ing scrutinised by parliamentary Business Costs and Expenses, 2016. performance would be dicult ults announced in Nature this week, scientists xed a (₹1.5 lakh per month). Proposals to harlal Nehru saw the entire Cab- committees, defeating the very Given a history of expense scan- given varying interpretations of mutation that thickens the heart muscle, a condition raise the salaries of ministers to inet take a collective decision not purpose of a deliberative Parlia- dals, the U.K. has, since May 2010, “performance”. Would a constitu- called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The cardiac dis- ₹3.6 lakh per month and MLAs to to avail of their salaries for six ment. Money Bills, like those asso- instituted the Independent Parlia- tional Bill debate that leads to the ease causes sudden death in otherwise healthy young ₹2.1 lakh a month have been passed months, given the enormous eco- ciated with Aadhaar, have been mentary Standards Authority Bill being rejected be deemed as by the Delhi Assembly. nomic suering in India then. passed without being referred to a (IPSA), which is responsible for the non-performance? The decline in athletes and aects about one in 500 people overall. It Other political giants such as committee. The rush to pass Bills regulation and payment of ex- parliamentary sittings remains a is caused by a mutation in a particular gene and a child Skewed compensation Biswanath Das from Orissa has been inspired by a priority for penses to the Members of the complex problem with no easy an- will suer from the condition even if it inherits only one The idea of paying a salary has al- (Odisha) chose to draw only ₹25 a politics, not policy. House of Commons. Receipts asso- swer. This could be partially allevi- copy of the mutated gene. Correcting the mutation in ways been closely linked to remu- day instead of ₹45 a day that he was There are multiple templates for ciated with MP claims are regularly ated by linking salaries to a min- the gene would not only ensure that the child is healthy nerating public representatives. entitled to, by saying that he did reformation. A survey of parlia- released into public record, with imum attendance of parliamentary but it would also prevent the mutation from being However, such remuneration can not need any more. The erstwhile mentary salaries conducted in the June 2009 release leading to a sessions. Linking lawmaker salar- passed on to future generations. In an attempt to re- go overboard sometimes. For ex- Madras Assembly saw V.I. Mun- 2013 by the Inter-Parliamentary million documents and receipts re- ies to the right set of incentives and ample, public representatives in iswami Pillai move a successful Union (IPU) across 104 Parliaments lating to MP claims between 2005 investing in the relevant institu- move the small portion of mutation, the researchers in- developing countries in Africa and motion in 1949 to impose a volun- across 138 parliamentary cham- and 2008 being available for public tions remains necessary to raise jected sperm of a man aected by hypertrophic cardi- Asia are routinely paid far above tary cut of ₹5 per diem, in recogni- bers (104 responded, 96 con- viewing. our parliamentary standards. omyopathy and the gene-editing tool called per capita GDP. Nigeria, since 2013, tion of the suering of farmers. sidered) highlighted that salaries in CRISPR-Cas9, that cuts the DNA near the position of the pays its lawmakers over $189,500, Today, parliamentary repres- about 55% are linked to a struc- Way forward Feroze Varun Gandhi is a Member of mutation, into the egg at the same time. The gene-edit- which is more than 100 times its entatives have arrogated the au- tured scale, typically linked to the Instead of seeking pay in line with Parliament representing the Sultanpur ing tool cut the DNA at the correct position in all em- per capita GDP while in Kenya, its thority to increase their own scal civil service (France, Japan) or min- the private sector, India’s public constituency for the BJP bryos and 42 out of the 58 embryos did not carry the mutation. Though the research marks a major mile- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR stone in genome editing of embryos, it will be a long Letters emailed to [email protected] must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. while before it becomes available as a tool to produce healthy embryos. For instance, even research on em- Letter to Pranab and with tolerance. The NOTA question reintroduced. In such a display their protest. But raids as an exercise of bryos using federal funding is not permitted in the U.S., It’s clear that Narendra Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, The Congress is protesting situation, the option of issue again, I am highly political vendetta, but it has Faridabad, Haryana where the research was carried out. The embryos were Modi is not the only man of against the NOTA option in of whip by the parties will apprehensive whether the to do more to remove the rhetoric; his scriptwriter the Rajya Sabha polls not arise. mechanism will be of any clouds of suspicion that produced with the clear intention of using them solely also knows how to weave Doklam face-o (“NOTA option to stay in K.R. Jayaprakash Rao, signicance because of the have settled over its present for research and not for implanting them in women. words beautifully (“You’ve India has always maintained Rajya Sabha polls”, August Mysuru provision of open ballots. actions. While several diseases can potentially be prevented been a mentor, Modi tells restraint despite 4). The Supreme Court has The culture of party politics M. Jeyaram, by using this technique, including some cancers, the Pranab”, August 4). I recall provocation from China on questioned why the issue is ■ NOTA is a “protest” vote and winning has defeated Sholavandan, Tamil Nadu announcement has also revived fears about designer in this context how former the borders (“End face-o being raised now even that allows citizens to show the idea of electing good babies being within the realm of possibility. In retro- Prime Minister Atal Bihari peacefully: Sushma”, though NOTA in the Rajya their dissent. But why do we and deserving leaders. ■ Is it not deplorable on the spect, every advancement in reproductive health, start- Vajpayee asked Mr. Modi to August 4). What is sad is Sabha polls has been in even use NOTA when the Ngurang Reena, part of Karnataka Chief adhere as Chief Minister to China’s refusal to revert to existence since 2014. votes garnered under the Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh Minister Siddaramaiah to ing from in vitro fertilisation to the recent birth of a his ‘Raj Dharma’ in the the status quo and its However, there are various mechanism are ineectual? ask the intelligence wing if baby through the “three parent” technique for mito- context of the 2002 Gujarat condition that India must connected issues to be (NOTA votes are just tallied; Raids continue they were asleep and why chondria-related disease, has initially been mired in riots. And in 1971, after the withdraw troops for considered here. The polls the candidate with the The timing of the raids by they did not let the State controversy but has ultimately come to stay. In the Bangladesh war, Mr. resumption of talks. As to the Rajya Sabha by the highest number of votes the Income Tax department know about the possible IT same way, the use of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool Vajpayee referred to Indira India is committed to the members of the State polled is declared elected on Karnataka Energy raid? Is the State when proven safe for preventing certain hereditary dis- Gandhi as “Ma Durga”. Was security treaty with Bhutan Assembly are held by open leader.) Minister D.K. Shivakumar intelligence bureau ease-causing mutations from being passed on to the this, like Mr. Vajpayee’s two to protect its borders, it ballot where the voters are NOTA is a representation of and his associates has lent supposed to leak emotional moments, Mr. cannot turn a blind eye to required to show the ballot the people’s conscious credence to the criticism of information and show its child should be allowed, especially when no other treat- Modi’s emotional moment? Chinese operations at the papers to the party agent choice. The votes polled it being politically loyalty to the State ment is available. In February this year, the U.S. Na- Or was it again rhetoric? tri-junction. Though India after marking them. The under NOTA must be more motivated (“Karnataka government, or does it have tional Academies of Sciences and Medicine allowed sci- Only time will tell. But I knows well that a stand-o parties also issue whips in than just a mere Minister’s ocial chambers an independent entists to use the tool for research and said the cannot understand why Mr. with China will only favour of the party representation of protest, as searched”, August 4). But responsibility too? Does it technique to edit embryos will become acceptable for Modi didn’t request Pranab aggravate the situation and candidate. In such a NOTA is based on the this incident reminds one of not imply that the Chief clinical use. But for that to happen, rigorous research Mukherjee to continue as is not in its interest in the situation, will choosing the principle that consent the 1980s when the Minister, if he had been President. I hope that his long run, China should not NOTA option not amount to requires the ability to Congress party used to do given such information, involving multiple locations has to be carried out to ad- love and respect for Mr. take India for granted. violation of party whip and withhold an election (by the same: use central would have made dress all safety concerns and ethical issues. To that end, Mukherjee, as seen in the China should come to the the possibility of voting No). agencies to coerce political preparations to avert the the researchers have already addressed an inherent letter, remains, and that he table to sort out the border disciplinary action? If the Should NOTA be an option opponents to fall in line. shame? problem of producing embryos containing a mosaic of pays heed to the latter’s question amicably before NOTA option is to be in the Rajya Sabha What goes around comes Prakopa Arya, unrepaired and repaired cells by introducing the gene- guidance on how to run the this escalates. eective for the Rajya Sabha elections? It is a strategic around. The Bharatiya Bengaluru editing tool and the sperm together into the egg. country keeping in mind K.R. Srinivasan, polls, the system of voting way of allowing the Janata Party (BJP) more letters online: people’s right to disagree Secunderabad by secret ballot should be Legislative Members to leadership may deny the www.hindu.com/opinion/letters/

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THE HINDU NOIDA/DELHI SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 2017 GROUND ZERO 7 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Long live the canal The Buckingham Canal was once the preferred choice for ferrying goods along coastal Andhra Pradesh. An ambitious plan to not only restore the British-era canal to its past glory but also extend its course is now afoot. K. Venkateshwarlu reports

hree decades after lack of patronage forced him to dispose of his T two boats, 70-year-old Peeta Satyanarayana still cycles his way to the site of the Commamuru lock that con- trols the flow of water in the Bucking- ham Canal and makes it navigation- worthy. He comes here often to catch a glimpse of the placid waters of the canal as he strikes up conversations near a vantage point close to the British-era lock with fishermen, who wait eagerly, their ears trained for familiar sounds of splashing in the nets — the sign of a good catch. “How can I forget this canal that fed me and my family? The advent of lorries has snatched away my boats and livelihood but I cannot forget the canal and never miss an opportunity to visit the place,” says the frail Satyanarayana. In his youth, he used to run his two boats, one of them inherited from his boatman father. The boats fetched a decent income and he oversaw the work of 10 labourers who would load tonnes of sand and unload them at Tenali 50 km away. The sand from the canal fetched a decent income. “It was back-breaking work, manu- ally lugging the boat. What kept our spirits up were songs we sang together,” Satyanarayana reminisces. Today he is reduced to taking care of his one acre- farm with a farm hand. His son has shif- ted gears to become a car driver. As he blames motorised transportation for ru- ining his livelihood, he cannot escape the irony of his son’s dependence on a car. When told about the government’s proposal to revive navigation on the Buckingham Canal, a process involving deepening through dredging and widening it, his eyes light up. “Really, is it? That is great news. My son and I will get back to boating”.

The grand revival plan Trailing the meandering Buckingham Canal from Kakinada to Pulicat lake in Andhra Pradesh, a distance of 560 km, one finds that it is sometimes picturesque, in places full of filth, and disap- Murky waters: “The meandering Buckingham Canal from Kakinada to Pulicat lake in Andhra Pradesh is sometimes picturesque, in places full of lth, and disappears at places only to reappear after a few miles.” The polluted pearing at places only to reappear after canal water near Krishnapatnam port in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh; (Below) A view of the South Buckingham Canal at Mamallapuram, Chennai. * CH. VIJAYA BHASKAR; JOTHI RAMALINGAM a few miles. The colour of the water changes from light blue to brown and black. People living along the canal pose canal in some places, while the ar- apathy at Vijayawada and Eluru. Close Many old-timers narrate tales of <> People may want it (a revival) share stories of despair and hope, as the rival of road and rail transportation led to the Prakasam barrage in Vijayawada, boats transporting goods through the but one needs to be cautious Inland Waterways Authority of India to the slow death of navigation barring a the channel from where the boats used Buckingham Canal until the late 1960s. while executing it. For (IWAI) braces to revive this asset, once a few stretches. to enter Krishna river and the place V. Paramasivam of Mamallapuram says watery vein criss-crossing the coastal Clearly, the worst part of the Bucking- where they used to dock were filled the canal was the main mode of trans- instance, Krishna river, on Andhra landscape that ushered in ham Canal as it stands today are the with debris just before Krishna portation about five decades ago and which a major part of the prosperity by integrating navigation, ir- urban sprawls of Vijayawada, Tenali, Pushkaram, the river festival held last letters used to be transported in boats revival project rests, has been rigation and fishing. Eluru and Kakinada from where it year. In Eluru, the canal passing from Mamallapuram to Muttukadu. “I receiving less inows with A ₹2,000-crore plan announced by struggles to snake through. Look at the through the middle of the town is re- remember watching boats on the canal. upstream States taking up the Central government last year for re- coastal town of Cocanada that evolved duced to a sewer line. The bunds on Men along the banks used to pull the irrigation projects with juvenation looks ambitious in its sweep to today’s Kakinada, the starting point either side have a string of statues of boats with ropes to help smooth sail- renewed vigour. as it aims to cover 1,095 km. It is much of the revival project. The picture it public figures, temples, fruit and tea ing,” he says. more than the originally planned course presents on either side of the British- shops. The western locks near the bus Yerneni Nagendranath Former member of the Krishna, Godavari, Pennar Delta from Kakinada to Kalapettai comprising built bridge is quite a contrast. If one stand that used to control the flow of Challenges aplenty ahead Drainage Board Kakinada Canal (Kakinada to Rajahmun- side, opening into the Bay of Bengal, water lie in a dilapidated state. A gargantuan task awaits the Centre, dry: 50 km), Eluru Canal (Rajahmundry brims with port activity, the other side Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu gov- to Eluru: 74 km), Krishna Eluru Canal connecting the Buckingham Canal, loc- The Tamil Nadu stretch ernments. After decades of neglect, re- canal. “After all the spending, will there (Eluru to Vijayawada: 65 km), ally called Kakinada Canal, remains The situation is no different in Chennai. vival of the Buckingham Canal came be patronage given the rapid strides in Commamuru Canal (Vijayawada to Ped- quiet. In the days of yore, this part of The waterway has shrunk and degraded into focus after it was declared as Na- transportation by road and rail?” daganjam: 113 km) and North Bucking- Kakinada too might have seen activity into a sewage carrier in many stretches tional Waterway 4 in 2008. This itself But I.S.N. Raju, former Chief Engin- ham Canal (Pedda Ganjam to Tada: 258 matching the port, moving goods from over the decades. Though navigation came about after studies showed that eer of Irrigation of Andhra Pradesh, dis- km) — all in Andhra Pradesh. But for the ships on to the boats and ferrying them was suspended in the 1960s, the canal the canal acted as a buffer and had agrees and contends most of the canal is North Buckingham Canal which is as far away as Vijayawada. The quay continues to be a source of livelihood to saved many lives and properties when a intact and all that is needed is dredging partly tidal, all others are fresh water- from where the cargo was carried in- people of many coastal hamlets on the tsunami hit the Tamil Nadu and Andhra and widening. “It is a long-pending en- based. In Tamil Nadu, the revival plan land now lies hidden behind a host of fringes of the city. The canal, which is Pradesh coast in December 2004. Tak- vironment-friendly transportation pro- covers South Buckingham Canal: Chen- encroachments, one-room houses, even 40-50 m wide in some portions ing a leaf out of the Britishers’ vision for ject and should be taken up,” he says. nai to Marakkanam (110 km) and temples, a petrol bunk, timber depot between Pulicat and Ennore, has the canal, ambitious plans were drawn, That overcoming such challenges is Marakkanam to Kalapettai in Puduch- and rows of shops vending drastically shrunk near Ennore and but work on the ground has remained indeed a tough call is indicated by the erry (22 km). knick-knacks. heavily silted with fly ash deposits slow and tardy. way the IWAI has chosen a much easier The plan now, as finalised by the Mounds of garbage have shrunk its dumped by thermal power stations. As Challenges are plenty — from main- option. It has taken up “development” IWAI, is to extend it to the Godavari width while a sheet of hyacinth covering the waterway enters Chennai, it is a vic- taining the water level in the canal, re- of the 82 km Muktyala-Vijayawada com- river system from Bhadrachalam (in Tel- cry from the days when the canal was the water reflects the poor health of the tim of rampant pollution due to sewage moval of the very many bridges built ponent of the 157-km-long Wazirabad- angana) to Rajahmundry covering a dis- used not only for transporting sand but canal. “As a teenager, I have seen many and floating garbage. The Mass Rapid haphazardly on its course, and en- Pulichintala stretch of the Krishna river. tance of 171 km; and to the Krishna river also foodgrain. “Though the number of boats carrying coconut, foodgrain and Transit System built right on the bed of croachments on the canal bunds in the “We need to take up something which is system from Wazirabad (Telangana) to boats has come down and they only fertilizers. Then sand used to be the Buckingham Canal is the biggest en- towns, among others. Yerneni Na- commercially viable and could be com- Pulichintala near Vijayawada (157 km). fetch sand now, they still run here as the brought from Rajahmundry. But all that croachment in Chennai. The urban gendranath, former member of the pleted in the shortest period of time. We A MoU has been signed by the Centre fare costs are cheap,” says Mura- has stopped now,” says 68-year-old V. stretch of the canal running for about Krishna, Godavari, Pennar Delta Drain- chose this component as it links about and the Andhra Pradesh government to likrishna, the boat owner. Ramu, a hamali (labourer) who used to 40 km between Ennore and age Board, is sceptical: “People may 14 cement plants in the hinterland of get the project going through a special Incidentally Nandamuru presents a help in loading and unloading. Sholinganallur was left out of the Na- want it and it may look possible on the Muktyala to the [under-construction] purpose vehicle and involves the Vi- picturesque sight — a rail track, the It is the same story of neglect and tional Waterway 4 project as it was pol- drawing board but one needs to be cau- capital Amaravati. By 2018, we can run sakhapatnam Port Trust. The idea is to highway and the canal running parallel luted and declared not navigable. tious while executing it. For instance, 500- to 1,000-tonne vessels, cutting develop the waterway to Class-III navig- to each other. The British kept extend- As a teenager, I have seen The remaining portion of the South Krishna river, on which a major part of short the road route by 50 km,” says V. ation standards for running 1,000- ing the canal leveraging their engineer- <> Buckingham Canal is not without its the revival project rests, has been re- Sridhar, Deputy Director of IWAI, Vijay- many boats carrying coconut, tonne-capacity vessels. ing prowess, and for over a century and share of problems. The canal is even 80- ceiving less inflows with upstream awada. In Tamil Nadu, the development a half it withstood cyclones, tidal waves foodgrain and fertilizers. Back 100 m wide in places like Pulicat, En- States taking up irrigation projects with of National Waterway 4 has taken a back The men by the canal and a tsunami. From the initial 17-km then, sand used to be brought nore, Muttukadu, Pudupattinam and renewed vigour.” Also, he says, 80% of seat with the IWAI shifting its office Gunasekhar’s ancestors had migrated stretch from Chennai North to Ennore from Rajahmundry. But all that Marakkanam where it joins the sea. But the new bridges across the canal built from Chennai to Vijayawada last year. from Tamil Nadu to Dugarajapatnam (1806), it extended to Pulicat lake, a dis- has stopped now. it has shrunk to less than 10-m width in over the last two-three decades will Three years ago, elaborate plans and then Aragatapalem abutting Krish- tance of 40 km, built first by business- V. Ramu some stretches like Kalpakkam and have to be demolished, besides the were devised to develop the stretch napatnam port in Nellore district. “Ever man Basil Cochrane and then under A hamali (labourer) heavily encroached upon. need to acquire land for widening the between Pulicat and Ennore and since the port and three thermal power British governance, and winding up to Sholinganallur and Marakkanam to en- plants came up nearby, my boating and Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, then able cargo vessels of around 300-tonne fishing area have been reduced to just part of Madras Presidency. A part of this capacity and passenger vessels to navig- about two kilometres,” he laments, extension of the canal was for providing ate the waterway. It remains a non- pointing to the tidal wave stretch of the work to the people affected by the Great starter due to issues between IWAI and Buckingham Canal full of blackish Famine of 1876-78 in the region. the previous Tamil Nadu government sludge, apparently waste flowing from over the project. the port. The place where many boats Glorious past, gloomy present While the Tamil Nadu government is used to dock is now an open-air toilet. Originally called Cochrane Canal in yet to decide on resuming the project, it It is a daily grind for Gunasekhar as 1806, it was then called Lord Clive’s has set the ball rolling for desilting and he has to manoeuvre his boat through Canal for a brief while. It finally became widening of the Buckingham Canal the sludge and spread the net for catch- Buckingham Canal in 1878 as it was on between Ennore and Muttukadu. ing the fish. At adjacent Ramanagaram, the order of the Duke of Buckingham Dredging work has just begun on fishermen showed three “obstructions”, and Chandos — as Governor of Madras — Muktyala-Vijayawada stretch for the temporary roads laid by power plants that the extension of the canal was completion of which ₹81 crore is estim- over the canal restricting their fishing taken up to help people affected by fam- ated. The overall estimate of ₹2,000 area to a few patches. They are all gung- ine. Buckingham it was and has come to crore is just preliminary. When the ac- ho about the proposal to clean up the be. Extension work began and the Buck- tual restoration work on the canal from mess and restore the canal. At Pedda ingham Canal stretched gradually to Kakinada to Chennai begins, it is expec- Ganjam, a number of salt pans and Kakinada further north in Andhra Pra- ted to run into hundreds of crores. For shrimp ponds have come up perilously desh and to Markkanam south of instance, the first-phase work from Kak- close to the canal. Chennai. inada to Vijayawada alone is estimated Yet there are stretches like Eluru to Details of the working of the Bucking- to cost over ₹6,000 crore, including Nidadavolu and Tadepalligudem to Ra- ham Canal and how it brought prosper- land acquisition on either side of the jahmundry forming part of the Eluru ity to the coastal belt were recorded me- canal. But it is all worth it for the people Canal where the water looks reasonably ticulously in late 19th century district living by the side of the canal, for whom fresh, the canal wider and navigation is gazetteers of Kistna district, as Krishna restoring the waterway could mean a alive and kicking. At Nandamuru, pro- used to be called in those days. The cyc- new lifeline. fusely sweating labourers are shifting lones of 1965-66 and 1976 however sand from a boat to two lorries — a far struck a blow, damaging the multipur- With inputs from K. Lakshmi CM A ND-NDE YK