The proposed Cauvery Management Board (CMB) will not take over operation and maintenance (O&M) of eight dams on the Cauvery basin, but will only regulate the release of water in accordance with the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal as per water availability, according to Shashi Shekhar, Union Water Resources Secretary.
On concerns in certain quarters, including those in Karnataka, that the CMB would replace the existing machinery in the basin States of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the Secretary told The Hindu over the phone on Saturday that the function of O&M would continue to be with the Public Works or irrigation departments of the States concerned.
According to the final award, the dams in question are Banasura Sagar (Kerala); Hemavathy, Harangi, Kabini and Krishnarajasagar (Karnataka) and Bhavanisagar, Amaravathy and Mettur (Tamil Nadu), all of which will be operated in an integrated manner under the overall guidance of the Board. The concerns have been expressed in the light of the Supreme Court’s recent order to the Centre to set up the CMB in four weeks.
Pointing out that the Board, by regulating the water release, would ensure that due share of water is provided to States as per the Tribunal’s order, Mr. Shekhar said it would also see to it that “there is no questionable drawal from any place or at any point of time so that lower riparian states are not put to discomfort and they get their justified share.”
Apart from representatives of the two states, the CMB would have neutral persons and “it is supposed to take care of interests of all the States in a fair manner.” In the event of a distress year, it would see “how distress is proportionately distributed in all the States.”
Giving his opinion on the Board’s functions, the Union Ministry’s top official said the CMB had to promote efficiency in water use, as the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) does. It should also take care of environmental needs and ensure that the “catchment area [of the Cauvery river] is adequately planted.”
Asked whether a regulatory body would work in a deficit basin such as the Cauvery, Mr Shekhar said, “The challenge is how to economise the use of water; how to promote efficiency and how to promote different cropping patterns. What is the necessity for the basin states to grow only paddy and sugarcane if there is inadequate water? They should switch over to different patterns so that they will live within that means. If you don’t live within your means, all these problems crop up.”
Central official says it will only regulate water release in accordance with Cauvery Tribunal final award
