Cauvery Water Management Scheme 2018

Why in news ?
Supreme Court has ordered centre to formulate a scheme for Cauvery on "Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's" order. After three months of the order The "Union Ministry of Water Resources" has issued a notification for the same.

Cauvery Water Management Scheme 2018

As per the scheme named "Cauvery Water Management Scheme, 2018" the sharing of Cauvery water between "Karnataka, Kerela, Tamilnadu and Poducherry" has to be decided by "Cauvery Water Management Authority" and the "Cauvery Water Regulation Committee".

Both "Cauvery Water Management Authority" and "Cauvery Water Regulation Committee" created under the scheme has separate roles, the authority will be responsible for apportionment, regulation and control of Cauvery water while the committee will monitor the daily water levels, inflows and storage position at major reservoirs storing the Cauvery water.

Cauvery Water Management Authority

The authority will have following duties:
1) Regulate the release of water by Karnataka to Tamil Nadu from the Billigundulu gauge and discharge station.
2) Reservoirs supervisions and to determine the total residual storage in reservoirs.
3) Decide on the share of each State, and determine the withdrawals by each State.

The authority will comprise of following members:
1) Headed by the Chairman.
2) A senior and eminent engineer or a Secretary/Additional Secretary-level executive with experience in handling inter-state water disputes.
3) Two whole-time members.
4) Six part-time members one each nominated from the riparian States.
5) A Secretary from the Central Water Engineering Services cadre, without voting right

In case of deficiency in the water availability, the reduction of water will be decided on voting by the member. To create new water storage facilities states' proposals will also be considered.

Cauvery Water Regulation Committee

The Committee will collect details such as storage, inflows and water levels at Hemavathy, Harangi, Krishnarajasagara, Kabini, Mettur, Bhavanisagar, Amaravathy and Banasurasagar reservoirs on a daily basis and prepare periodical reports on water account in these reservoirs on a monthly and seasonal basis. Based on these reports, the Authority will finalise on the quantum of share of water.

The committee will comprise of following members:
1) Headed by Whole-Time Member (Water Resources) of the Authority.
2) Representatives from the riparian States, the India Meteorological Department, the Central Water Commission, Ministry of Agriculture.
3) A Member Secretary.

The committee will be based on Bengaluru to meet every 10 days during the monsoon months of June to October.