Bengaluru/New Delhi: The Centre on Monday said that it will take three times the time the Supreme Court gave to the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) to even make a rapid assessment of what ails the Cauvery basin. The SC had instructed the Centre to form CMB on October 4, check the ground reality and file a report by October 6.
The Centre in its application to the SC has said that it would need at least 30 days to travel the 80,000 sq. km basin and conduct physical inspections. It was also suggested in the application that a ‘high-power technical team’ should be set up to make the assessment.
The court is likely to take a decision on this point on October 4.
Karnataka’s four reservoirs – Hemavathi, Harangi, Krishna Raj Sagar and Kabini and Tamil Nadu’s Mettur, Lower Bhavani Dam and Amaravati would be inspected.
While the water to Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu comes from a measuring point, namely, Biligundulu in Karnataka, the water to Lower Bhavani Dam comes from Kerala and from Tamil Nadu itself. “The water has to be measured at the reservoirs in Karnataka at the point of Biligundulu for Mettur Dam and at the measuring point, that is, Lower Bhawani Dam. Assessment of drinking water and water for standing crop for the States concerned is also to be made,” the Centre explained in its application.
