State opposes CWMA’s move to post its nominees at dams

Karnataka on Monday opposed the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) move to appoint its representatives at all Cauvery basin reservoirs.

“As per the current powers, functions and duties of the CWMA, it can’t nominate representatives at the reservoirs level,” Karnataka said in the Authority’s meeting held here.

The CWMA earlier said it would appoint its representatives in all Cauvery basin reservoirs including Krishnaraja Sagara, Hemavathy, Kabini and Harangi to monitor the storage, inflow, out flow and regulate the drawing of water from reservoirs for agriculture or any other purposes.

“There is no obligation cast on the state governments to entertain permanent representatives of the Authority at the reservoir level. Moreover, there is no need for such permanent representatives at each reservoir site. The Authority shall not intercede in the management of storages and water withdrawal for various uses by the party states,” Karnataka said in its note submitted to the Authority in its first meeting.

The state also said that “there should not be any imposition of providing a pre-designed scheme of regulations at 10-daily period to be adopted in any year. In normal years, the state government has ensured the flows at Biligundlu in accordance with final orders of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal. Since the problems arise when there is a distress, Karnataka urged the Centre to take ground realities into consideration before determining the distress sharing of water among states.”

The Authority in its meeting also decided to request the Central Water Commission to submit proposal for setting up communication network to assess hydrological conditions. The meeting also addressed the Authority’s budget and the issue of setting up of a permanent office for the Authority.