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Wednesday, Jul 07, 2004

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Tribunal members to visit Cauvery basin

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI, JULY 6 . Difference of opinion between the Chairman and two members of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal came to the fore today with two different orders being passed, one by the Chairman and the other by the two members on the question of carrying out a visit to the Cauvery river basin to ascertain the ground realities.

While the members, N.S. Rao and Sudhir Narain, passed an order that they would visit the river basin in the States concerned during August-September, the Chairman, Justice N.P. Singh, in a separate order, observed that such a visit was a drain on the State exchequer and no useful purpose would be served for the determination of the award. Though it was a split verdict, it is learnt that majority view would prevail and members would make a visit to the river basin as desired.

The proceedings began before the Tribunal after the summer vacation and the crucial issue of equitable distribution of water among the four riparian States was taken up for arguments. During the course of arguments the members felt that a visit to the Cauvery basin would help in better appreciation of the situation and understanding of the ground realities and to pass a fair and just award.

Therefore they passed an order that an inspection be carried out and the best period for doing so would be August-September as by then South West monsoon would have receded and northeast monsoon would not begin.

They asked the respective States to work out a schedule and submit their itineraries to the Tribunal within a week indicating the places of visit.

The Chairman, in his order, questioned the wisdom of such a visit stating that it would not help in any manner in determining the award. He pointed out that the Tribunal was in existence for the last 15 years and even now the hearing was taking place only for eight days in a month. The Supreme Court had time and again asked why the Tribunal was taking such a long time to give its award.

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