Chennai, July 28:
The Union Government has clarified in the Rajya Sabha that there is no requirement for Karnataka to obtain consent from lower riparian States to construct structures across the Cauvery river, as per the Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment on the Cauvery water dispute.
Responding to an unstarred question (No. 876) raised by Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, the Ministry of Jal Shakti stated that the February 16, 2018 judgment of the Supreme Court does not mandate prior consent from downstream States—Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry—for building any structure across the Cauvery.
Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary, in his written reply, said that the apex court had upheld Clause XVIII of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) Award, 2007. The clause affirms that nothing in the Tribunal’s order restricts any State’s authority to regulate water use within its boundaries, provided such actions are not inconsistent with the Tribunal’s directives.
On the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, the Centre informed the House that Karnataka has not obtained consent from the lower riparian States. Addressing the current status of the project, the Ministry revealed that the Detailed Project Report (DPR), submitted by Karnataka in 2019, was returned to the project authorities.
The DPR was sent back with instructions to revise it in accordance with the CWDT Award and existing guidelines of the Central Water Commission (CWC). The government reiterated that compliance with these norms is mandatory before any further consideration of the project.