In Brief
The Supreme Court disposed of contempt petitions filed by Tamil Nadu and others against the Central Government for delay in framing a scheme under Section 6A of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 to implement the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Award as modified by the Court's February 2018 judgment. Accepting the Union's assurance that the draft Cauvery Water Management Scheme would be expedited, the Court rejected objections from Karnataka and Kerala regarding the scheme's provisions. The Court held that the scheme provisions requiring states to furnish water demand indents and allocating carry-over storage are necessary for effective implementation and do not violate states' constitutional rights over water. The scheme establishes the Cauvery Water Management Authority and Regulation Committee to oversee water distribution, apportionment, and compliance with the Tribunal Award.
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