Karnataka to challenge Cauvery Management Authority in Supreme Court
At an all-party meet, comprising BJP, Congress, and JD(S) members, called by Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday, the state government decided to authorize its legal team to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the notification by the Centre regarding the Cauvery Management Authority. The decision comes a week after Karnataka reluctantly nominated two members to the Cauvery Management Authority. Here's more.
Despite their political differences, all three parties unanimously agreed to challenge the formation of the Cauvery Water Committee and the Cauvery Regulatory Authority by the Centre in the upcoming session of the Parliament. The state's legal team will now appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the formation of these bodies, and against the Centre's scheme of dividing Cauvery's waters.
"We have decided to appeal the matter in the Supreme Court and our legal team comprising Mohan Katarki, Fali Nariman and our advocate general will guide us through it," said state irrigation minister DK Shivakumar.
The Supreme Court, earlier this year, had mandated a water sharing scheme, but had made no mention of a governing board. The Centre's announcement of a management authority took the state government by surprise. Karnataka strongly opposes the formation of the Cauvery Management Authority as it will take away its control over three reservoirs that fall in the Cauvery River basin.
The dispute dates back to pre-independence agreements (1892 and 1924) between Mysore and Madras Presidency. In 1990, the SC constituted the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT). In 2007, the SC awarded TN 419tmcft of water. Karnataka got 270 tmcft, Kerala 30 tmcft and Puducherry 7tmcft. Karnataka had challenged the decision in the SC. Kerala and TN had followed. Resolution attempts are still underway.
