Following the notification of the formation of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee despite Karnataka’s opposition, the state may file an appeal against provisions of the scheme.
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy was livid as the Central government went ahead and notified the formation of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee with consulting with Karnataka.
On Saturday, Kumaraswamy said that Karnataka is not against the formation of the committee, but was opposed to certain provisions in the scheme, which was discussed with the Prime Minister and the Water Resources Minister.
“Now, we feel our rights have been snatched and we will take it up with the Centre again," Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy told the media.
The CM also held a meeting with state Attorney-General Uday Holla. The government is now mulling filing an appeal with the Supreme Court regarding the functioning of the committee.
“Karnataka is not happy about certain provisions — these include the board inspecting reservoirs in the state and also deciding on the amount of water to be released. The CM wants to appeal against these issues. He also wants to appeal against the stipulation that the board can decide the crop pattern in the Cauvery basin in Karnataka on grounds that it is unscientific,” a source close to the CM said.
The source said that in the appeal, Karnataka will request the Supreme Court to not allow the committee to be formed and that the state will release water to Tamil Nadu as stipulated by the Supreme Court.
“Karnataka has released water whenever there was an adequate amount. We have also followed the court’s guidelines and released the stipulated amount of water to Tamil Nadu. With the formation of the Board, the risk falls on Karnataka as the Board may decide to order Karnataka to release water when there is a shortage and also risk the livelihoods of farmers by deciding on crop patterns. The state Attorney-General has said that an appeal can be filed and a decision in this regard will be taken after consulting with the cabinet,” the source added.
During his recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, CM Kumaraswamy had urged the Centre to revisit the disputed provisions on forming the committee before issuing the notification.
"We have made it clear that we are not against Centre following the Supreme Court directions. Our state has never violated laws even when people have faced many problems, but that should not be treated as our weakness,” Kumaraswamy told the media on Saturday.
The CM said he would meet the Union Water Resources Minister once more and also write to the Centre on the issue.