CHENNAI: Solicitor general of India Tushar Mehta stated it was indisputable that the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) was constituted to give effect to the Tribunal award as modified by the Supreme Court and it would have to take a decision as to whether the Karnataka government’s Mekedatu dam project was in conformity with the award. “This is one more reason which confers requisite power on CWMA to discuss the issue and take its own decision in accordance with the law,” Mehta said in his legal opinion to the Union Jal Shakti ministry on May 4.
Following repeated objections from the Tamil Nadu government not to take up a deliberation on the subject, the CWMA had sought legal opinion through the ministry with respect to powers and role of CWMA as to whether the same includes examination/conveying sanction/clearance/approval to the projects in the Cauvery basin or not. The CWMA now cites the legal opinion for holding a discussion on the Mekedatu project report on June 17. The SG said the composition of the CWMA as notified by the Centre in 2018 made it clear that it had representation from each affected state and had the powers and functions. tnn
