Cauvery row

SC assured him it would not. “There would be no senior lawyers standing here to argue,” the CJI said “The statute says scheme. Our judgment says ‘scheme,” the CJI said. “But the scheme ultimately must provide for a board or an implementing authority,” Naphade contended to which the CJI said: “Obviously!”

The CJI’s remark assumes significance because Karnataka has opposed setting up of a board on the ground that the SC judgement spoke of a evolving a scheme to implement the water-sharing verdict. There was no mention of the board. When Venugopal said the Centre has clarifications about the structure of a board, the CJI said: “SC cannot keep monitoring this. You implement it. Please remember, our order has to be complied with.You better implement our decree.” He even said there was no requirement for the Centre to invite suggestions from the state on framing the scheme or seek clarification on the tribunal’s order.

The court had on February 16 raised the 270 tmcft share of Cauvery water for Karnataka by 14.75 tmcft and reduced Tamil Nadu’s share but compensated it by allowing extraction of 10 tmcft groundwater from the river basin, saying the issue of drinking water had to be placed on a “higher pedestal”.

It also asked the Centre to formulate a scheme for water distribution. On Sunday, actor-politicians Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan led the Tamil film industry in a silent protest in favour of their demand for CMB.

They also demanded Chennai not host IPL games in face of the difficulties being faced by farmers. Chennai will on Tuesday host its first game of the season when Chennai Super Kings, who have returned to IPL after serving a two-year ban, will play Kolkata Knight Riders.

The game was on, IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla said. “No, Chennai match has not been shifted so far... We have spoken to the concerned authorities.”

RAJINIKANTH AND KAMAL HAASAN LED THE TAMIL FILM INDUSTRY IN A SILENT PROTEST IN FAVOUR OF THEIR DEMAND FOR CMB