Karnataka to Move Supreme Court Over Cauvery Management Authority

It was also decided that the MPs from Karnataka would raise the issue in Parliament in an all-party meeting.

An all-party meet called by Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy regarding the Cauvery Management Authority.

(Photo Courtesy: TNM)

In an all-party meet called by Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday, it was decided that Karnataka would file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the notification by the Centre regarding the Cauvery Management Authority.

The members of Parliament from the state have decided to take up the issue in the House. This development comes a week after the state nominated two members to the Cauvery Management Authority.

The notification by the Centre is part of the Cauvery Water Sharing Scheme that the Centre was asked to announce by the Supreme Court in its judgment earlier this year.

Irrigation Minister DK Shivakumar, while talking to the press after the meeting, said that two committees had been set up by the Centre – the Regulation Committee and the Management Authority.

“We have appointed two officers to the authority and they will go to the meeting on 2 July to present our views and raise the issues of farmers of Karnataka,” Shivakumar said.

Shivakumar added that the MPs from the state had agreed to raise the issue in Parliament.

Although it is mandatory for the Central government to place the scheme for discussion in Parliament, we have decided not to wait till then … 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.

DK Shivakumar, Irrigation Minister to the press

The meeting, which saw many MLAs and MPs present, was attended by state Bharatiya Janata Party Chief BS Yeddyurappa.

Karnataka had staunchly opposed the formation of the Cauvery Management Authority as it will take away its control over three reservoirs that fall in the Cauvery River basin. It had also pointed out that there was no mention of the river management board and only a ‘scheme’ is mentioned in the 16 February Supreme Court order.

Tamil Nadu, meanwhile, had argued that the ‘scheme’ was meant to comply with the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s order to set up the Cauvery Management Authority.