In an apparent effort at dilly-dallying on a volatile issue, the Centre has hinted that it may not set up the Cauvery Management Board.

Union Water Resources Secretary Upendra Prasad Singh opined yesterday that in its last month’s verdict, the Supreme Court didn’t specifically say that a Cauvery Management Board ought to be set up. He made this ‘startling revelation’ after holding consultations in New Delhi yesterday with officials of Governments of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Puducherry.

“The meeting discussed about the constitution of a body to supervise the Cauvery river water-sharing arrangement and its ways of functioning. We sought the views of all the State Governments concerned. We shall also take into account the written replies to be received from these States. The Cauvery River Water Disputes Tribunal propped up the idea of setting up a Cauvery Management Board.

“The apex Court didn’t specifically say that the Cauvery Management Board ought to be set up. In fact, it only said that an arrangement may be made to ensure sharing of Cauvery water on the lines proposed by it. The Centre hasn’t decided whether the supervision ought to be done by a Cauvery Management Board or some other body.

“The apex Court directed the Centre to set up a committee within six weeks to draft an action plan in this regard. We have commenced work in this regard and won’t hold any further meetings on the issue,” Singh concluded.