Set up panel to implement Cauvery order, Karnataka suggests Centre

Karnataka has suggested the Centre to set up a Cauvery Decision Implementation Committee headed by Union Water Resources Minister to implement the Supreme Court verdict on allocation of Cauvery water among basin states.

The state government in its comments submitted to the Union Ministry of Water Resources on Thursday on setting up a "scheme" to implement the apex court order, said that Water Resources Ministers of all riparian states, Karnataka,Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala, can be its members. Union Water Resources Secretary can be member secretary of the panel.

The state government submitted its opinion on formulating the scheme after the Union Ministry of Water Resources asked for comments from all the riparian states following the apex court direction.

In its comments, the state said the power and functioning of the committee should include implementing the Supreme Court order, decide the disputes in executing the highest court's judgment, determine the share of water among states in distress year, frame rules and regulations for the conduct of the business.

Monitoring agency

Under the Cauvery Decision Implementation Committee, Karnataka said a monitoring agency headed by Secretary, Union Ministry of Water Resources should be formed and chief secretaries of all basin states should be its members.

The monitoring agency should appoint an expert team headed by a member of the Central Water Commission or an officer of equal rank to verify the information and data provided   by the states and to report on the ground realities of the basin after the field inspection, Karnataka said.

The monitoring committee should meet at least once in three months but it may meet as often as necessary.

On resolving the dispute, Karnataka suggested that if any state is aggrieved by the non- implementation of the decision of the apex court, may file a complaint and monitoring committee can issue direction to the concerned state after holding proper inquiry. If any state is dissatisfied with the directions of the monitoring agency, it may file a review petition before the committee.

If a question of interpretation of the decision of the Supreme Court arises for consideration in the implementation, Committee may file an application before the Supreme Court seeking clarification.

The Centre may provide funds to set up the panel. Head quarters of the committee may be decided by the Centre in consultation of states, it said.