Tamil Nadu exercised over the Centre’s guidelines on projects in the Cauvery basin

Tamil Nadu is exercised over the latest guidelines of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Central Water Commission with regard to appraisal of water resources projects in the Cauvery basin.

On Monday, Water Resources Minister N. Anand told the Assembly that the Union government, in December last, framed the guidelines “unilaterally.”

The Centre’s norms assume relevance in the light of the ongoing controversy over the Mekedatu drinking water-cum-balancing reservoir project, mooted by Karnataka. 

The opposition to the guidelines is fundamental, as Tamil Nadu is of the view that the Cauvery basin is a deficit one, the position of which has been stated in the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) and the Supreme Court in the February 2018 judgement. Under such circumstances, where does the question arise for mooting projects, regardless of the purpose and the size, a water expert questions. An official says that the State government conveyed its objections to the Centre but the latter had defended the guidelines. 

Besides, there is a provision in the guidelines for presumptive concurrence with the stand of the Central Water Commission (CWC) for a project if the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) fails to convey its views within six months or if the CWMA returns the project proposal without offering its views regarding conformity or otherwise of the proposed water utilisation with the CWDT award. .  In the event of conflict in the views of the CWMA and the CWC, the former’s stance will prevail.   The State is anxious about the provision as this might be used against its interests. 

As per the guidelines, detailed project reports will have to be submitted to the CWC for medium and major irrigation projects , multi-purpose projects, drinking water and industrial use projects. After examining the reports from different angles including  inter-State issues, the CWC will send them to the CWMA for comments.  

Meanwhile, the CWMA held its meeting to take stock of the present situation of water realisation and flow.