Supreme Court directs Centre to frame draft scheme for Cauvery judgment implementation by May 3

Criticising the Centre for failing to frame the scheme for the implementation of the judgment on the distribution of Cauvery water between Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry, the Supreme Court on Monday asked to frame the draft scheme by May 3.

The Court has earlier directed the Centre to frame the scheme in six weeks but the Centre failed to do so nor approached the court prior to the March 31 deadline to convey any difficulties.

Hearing the Centre's plea seeking clarification on the verdict regarding setting up of a Cauvery management scheme in the decades-old river water sharing dispute, the Apex Court directed authorities in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to maintain peace in their states till the court puts stamp of approval on the scheme for implementation of its judgment on Cauvery water distribution.

The earlier verdict had raised the 270 tmcft share of Cauvery water for Karnataka by 14.75 tmcft and reduced Tamil Nadu's share while compensating it by allowing extraction of 10 tmcft groundwater from the river basin. Out of the total of 740 tmcft - annual share of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Union Territory of Puducherry would be 404.25 tmcft, 284.75 tmcft, 30 tmcft and 7 tmcft of Cauvery water respectively.

The Court said that once a draft scheme is devised, the views of Tamil Nadu, Karmataka, Puducherry and Kerala will be taken into consideration before approving the scheme.

The Centre cited Assembly elections in Karnataka next month and sought time beyond May 12 for framing the scheme.

However, the SC made it clear that it will not be extending the time for this on any ground.