Chennai sources stated that weeks after the Supreme Court pulled up the Centre for not framing a scheme for the Cauvery Management Board by the stipulated March 29 deadline, the BJP lead government has asked for another extension. Earlier on April 9, the Apex Court ordered the Centre to frame a draft scheme by May 3, which is the day the court was scheduled to hear the matter next.
Presently the Centre has now asked for a two week extension to form the scheme. If granted this would mean that the scheme will only be framed five days after the Karnataka elections. Meanwhile when reacting to this development, AIADMK leader O S Manian told the media, "The Centre clearly doesn't want to form the CMB till the Karnataka elections are held. This delay is unnecessary. We have to see how the Supreme Court responds to this."
Moreover while hearing Tamilnadu's contempt
petition against the Centre for the delay in the CMB formation, the court had
repeatedly rebuked the Centre for not complying with the deadline and told the
state that it agrees with its grievances. Furthermore Karnataka, on the other
hand, argued that the word ‘Board’ is not there in the verdict and has
suggested alternatives to the CMB. Moreover Karnataka does not want the board
to be set up as the state would then have to give up control over its dams.
