Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy stated that the Centre will face consequences if it delayed implementation of the Supreme Court verdict on the Cauvery dispute and alleged that the verdict pointed to the formation of the Cauvery Water Management Board within six weeks and that it should be constituted.
He asserted, “The Centre would face a situation of contempt of court if it does not form the 'Board' and also the 'Regulatory commission.”
He also accused the Karnataka government of adopting a “slippery and evasive approach” to the Cauvery water issue.
The CM further stated that said he had submitted a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latter's visit to Puducherry in which he encouraged the formation of the Water Management Board, to which he said that he had, “not received any reply so far from the Prime Minister.”
Narayanasamy added, “If the order of the apex court is not honoured, it would give rise to contempt of court.”
The Chief Secretary and PWD Secretary had recently attended a meeting by the union water resources ministry with all the stakeholders in the inter-state river dispute that are Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry, to discuss the modalities of a scheme to be implemented as directed the Supreme Court in its verdict on the Cauvery dispute.
He stated that the officials during the meeting, insisted on an immediate constitution of the Board to ensure that Karaikal region of Puducherry received the seven tmc feet of water as directed by the apex court and that around 43,000 hectare farm lands would be benefitted in Karaikal if the amount of water was made available and added that the drinking water situation would improve there as well.
