Centre sets up Cauvery Water Management Authority to address water sharing dispute

The Centre has constituted the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CMA) in compliance with a Supreme Court order to address the dispute over sharing of river water among the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.

On 16th of February, the Supreme Court had directed the government to form the CMA within six weeks.

A notification by the Ministry of Water Resources said, it has framed a scheme, constituting the CMA and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee to give effect to the decision of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal as modified by Apex Court order.

The authority would comprise a chairman, eight members besides a secretary. The chairman will be appointed by the Central government for a tenure of five years. 

Out of eight members, two each will be full-time and part-time members, while



the rest four will be part-time members from states. 

The Centre will initially contribute a sum of two crore rupees for the functioning of the authority.

A scheme has been framed by the Centre, constituting the CMA and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, to give effect to the decision of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal as modified by apex court order. 

The scheme would deal with the issue of water share of the four states in different circumstances like normal and deficient water years in the Cauvery river basin. 

A notification by the Ministry of Water Resources said, the authority would comprise a Chairman and eight members besides a Secretary. The Centre will initially contribute a sum of two crore rupees for the functioning of the authority.