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The Centre has no option but to establish the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee to oversee sharing of the river water, according to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami.
In an official press release, referring to the Supreme Court’s order of February 16, 2018, which had upheld the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, he pointed out the Court had clearly stated the Centre should put in place within six weeks a `scheme’ to share the river water in line with the Tribunal order.
The Court’s order followed an appeal filed by the river basin states, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, after the Tribunal delivered its final order in February 2007. The order had been notified by the Centre in February 2013.
Water allocation
In the release the Chief Minister said, except for reducing the quantum of water allocation to Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court had clearly specified that the `scheme’ should be in line with the Tribunal’s final order. While reducing Tamil Nadu's share to 177 tmcft from 192 tmcft the Court had stated other provisions of the Tribunal’s order are unchanged.
The Court had also stated that as mentioned in the Tribunal’s order a Management Board and a Regulation Committee to assist the Board have to be constituted with adequate powers to oversee the monthly sharing of river water and compliance to the Tribunal order.
Fight for rights
Palaniswami said Tamil Nadu had reiterated its stand at the meeting of the representatives of the three states called by the Centre on Friday. The State government had clearly enunciated its stance at the meeting. The Members of Parliament from Tamil Nadu continue to fight for its rights in the issue.
The Chief Minister’s explanation followed a meeting at the Secretariat today with the officials concerned, including Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan. The officials had participated in the consultation organised by the Centre yesterday.
Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu including the DMK, the main opposition, have urged the State government clarify its stance on the issue.
Special session
In a letter to the Chief Minister, the DMK Working President MK Stalin urged the State government convene a special session of the Assembly to discuss the issue. The Assembly should meet ahead of the State budget session commencing on February 15. The Assembly should pass a resolution urging the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board and Regulation Committee to oversee sharing of the river water, he said.
Stalin expressed concern over reports that the Union Water Resources Secretary UP Singh had said that the scheme mentioned in the Supreme Court does not necessarily mean the constitution of a management board or regulation committee. The Tamil Nadu government should clarify its stand clearly, he said.
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