SC refuses Karnataka’s plea to stall finalisation of draft Cauvery scheme

16 May 2018 Evaluate

The Supreme Court (SC) has rejected Karnataka’s plea that the finalisation of the draft Cauvery management scheme should be put on hold as the process of formation of a new government in the state is underway. The apex court also asked the Centre to modify a provision in the draft scheme that authorises the union government to issue directions ‘from time to time’ on Cauvery water distribution between four southern riparian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra asked Attorney General K K Venugopal to modify the scheme and submit it for approval. The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, did not accept the vehement submission of senior advocate Shyam Divan, representing Karnataka, that finalisation of the draft Cauvery scheme be put on hold till the first week of July as the process of government formation was on in the state.

The bench fixed the matter for tomorrow to consider the modified draft scheme, which will ensure compliance of the February 16 apex court judgment relating to Cauvery water distribution among four states. The apex court had earlier rapped the Centre over the delay in filing of the draft Cauvery management scheme. It had on May 8 summoned the Secretary of Union Water Resources Ministry to bring along with him the draft.

The bench had said the scheme, once finalised, would deal with the issue of water share of the four states in different circumstances like normal and deficient water years in the Cauvery river basin. The apex court had on February 16 asked the Centre to formulate the scheme to ensure compliance of its judgement on the decades-old Cauvery dispute. It had modified the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) award of 2007 and made it clear that it will not be extending time for this on any ground.

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