Centre seeks more time to implement Cauvery verdict

www.mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, Apr 1 2018 (DHNS): The Centre on Saturday filed a plea before the Supreme Court seeking three months to implement the February 16 verdict on the distribution of Cauvery river water.

The Centre contended that framing a scheme after the announcement of Karnataka Assembly elections may create massive public outrage, leading to law and order problems which could vitiate that electoral process.

The Union government also sought a clarification on "framing of the scheme" for implementing the verdict as divergent views were expressed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and other states.

The Centre also sought to know if the scheme to be framed under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act can be at variance from the Cauvery Management Board as recommended by the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal.

While citing the Assembly elections as a reason for more time, the Centre said: "Cauvery is a very emotive issue in Karnataka and in the past, the issue has led to serious law and order situations leading to loss of human lives and property."

On February 16, the apex court’s bench presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra gave six weeks time to the Centre to ensure that the rights of the state as determined by it was carried out.

In its 12-page application, the Ministry of Water Resources detailed the steps taken out by it since the pronouncement of the verdict, including seeking views from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, and holding meetings of chief secretaries and other officials of the respective states.

The Tamil Nadu government said that the Centre is mandated to put in place an authority or body for the implementation of the final decision by setting up a Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee.

On the contrary, the Karnataka government contended that the scheme in the form of the Cauvery Management Board was clearly ultra vires of the federal structure.

The state government stated that the Supreme Court has not endorsed or approved such a board in its judgement. It further maintained that the scheme contemplated in the judgement is the "constitution of a dispute resolution body" as distinct from the management board.

The Centre said in order to avoid further litigations in case there are divergent views, it is necessary to seek clarifications from the apex court.