Supreme Court on Cauvery Water Management Board.

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to constitute a Cauvery Water Management Board.

What is the Cauvery Management Board?

The Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal mandated the establishment of the Cauvery Management Board to ensure implementation of and compliance with its 2007 final order on the sharing of the river waters, mainly between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, but also with Kerala and Puducherry. The board is a permanent body under the Union Ministry of Water Resources.

Who will be part of the Board?

According to the rules, the Centre will appoint the chairman and all the members of the management board. Members will include an Irrigation Engineer and an agricultural expert and two other representatives from the Centre, who will be appointed by the Ministry of Water resources and Ministry of agriculture. Also all four Cauvery states – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pondicherry will have their representatives on the board.

What is the purpose of the Board?

Once the Board is set up, all the Cauvery reservoirs in Karnataka will come under the control of the board and the state will lose its rights over the management of water. The Board will take decisions on water usage and distribution. The Board will also see to it that states ensure proper hydraulic structures at relevant sites. It will determine the amount of water to be received by the states.

Who will handle the reservoirs?

The important reservoirs will be handled by the concerned states as per guidelines issued by the Cauvery Water Management Board to meet the requirements of various states.

How will the Board react during bad monsoons?

The Board will ensure adequate storage by the end of May each year during good years. This will help during delays in the onset of monsoons. In case of consecutive bad years, the Board will handle the issue appropriately by distributing water in a planned manner with minimum distress.

Who will bear the expenses?

The expenses of the board will be borne by all the member states. The expenses of the member representing a state will be borne by the respective state. The cost of installations, constructions or maintenance of hydrological systems shall be borne by the concerned states.