Cauvery Water Management Authority

Why is in news? The Cauvery Water Management Authority will decide on the recommendation of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) on Monday decided to recommend to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) that Karnataka release 5,000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days.

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6A of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, the Central Government notified the Cauvery Water Management Scheme on 1st June, 2018, inter-alia, constituting the ‘Cauvery Water Management Authority’ (CWMA) and the ‘Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’ (CWRC) to give effect to the decision of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal as modified by the Hon’ble Supreme Court Vide its Order, dated 16th February, 2018.

CWMA & CWRC have so far carried out the mandated job as per the above Gazette notification successfully.

Composition:

The authority will comprise a chairman, a secretary and eight members.

Out of the eight members, two will be full time, while two will be part time members from centre’s side.

Rest four will be part time members from states.

Functions:

The main mandate of the CMA will be to secure implementation and compliance of the Supreme Court’s order in relation to “storage, apportionment, regulation and control of Cauvery waters”.

CMA will also advise the states to take suitable measures to improve water use efficiency.

It will do so by promoting use of micro-irrigation, change in cropping patterns, improved farm practices and development of command areas.

The CMA will also prepare an annual report covering its activities during the preceding year.

Participation of Central Government in CWMA:

The central government will provide help in implementation of the modified award in case of any of the states (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka) or UT (Puducherry) parties do not cooperate in implementing the decision or direction of the tribunal.

The centre initially contribute Rs. 2 crores for the functioning of the authority.