CHENNAI: The Centre on Friday constituted the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC). Both bodies were formed without Karnataka’s representatives. The CWMA’s first meeting is tentatively fixed for June 28.
An order from Ministry of Water Resources said CWMA will be headed by Central Water Commission chairman S Masood Hussain. Chief Engineer, Irrigation Management Organisation, CWC, Navin Kumar and Commissioner of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture are members. Joint Secretary (Rainfed Farming System), Agriculture department and Joint Secretary (River Development & Policy & Planning) Water Resources Ministry are Centre’s fourth and fifth representatives. SK Prabhakar, Principal Secretary, Public Works Department, TN, A Anbarasu, Development Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Public Works), Puducherry and Tinku Biswal, Secretary, Water Resources department, Kerala, represent TN, Puducherry and Kerala respectively as part-time members. AS Goel, chief engineer, Yamuna Basin Organisation, CWC will function as Secretary, CWMA.
Kumar will be the CWRC chairman and Goel its member-secretary, as per another Ministry order. R Senthil Kumar, Chief Engineer, Water Resources department, Tiruchy region, is TN’s representative while Kerala is represented by KA Joshy, Chief Engineer, Inter State Waters, and Puducherry by V Shanmugasundaram, Chief Engineer, PWD. M Mohapatra, scientist, Indian Meteorological Department, NM Krishnaunni, Chief Engineer, Cauvery & Southern Rivers Organisation, CWC at Coimbatore, and Commissioner of Horticulture, Agriculture ministry, are members representing Centre. CWMA and CWRC were notified on June 1. Karnataka had till June 12 to nominate members but did not do so. TN CM Edappadi K Palaniswami had written to PM for CWMA be convened.