Lok Sabha Question No. 530 (STARRED), answered on 2017-04-11
Subject: Inter-State Border Disputes
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD, ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*530

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 th  APRIL,  2017 / CHAITRA 21, 1939 (SAKA)

INTER-STATE BORDER DISPUTES

†*530. PROF. RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD: SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether several States in the country are embroiled in inter-State disputes including border and water disputes;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  and  nature  of  such  disputes  including  the  MaharashtraKarnataka border dispute and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has received any proposal relating to Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute from the Government of Maharashtra and  if  so,  the  details  and  the  status  thereof  along  with  the  reaction  of  the Government thereto;
- (d) the reasons for the delay in resolving inter-State border/water disputes in the  country  along  with  the  effective  measures  taken/being  contemplated  to settle such disputes expeditiously; and
- (e) the time by which such disputes are likely to be resolved?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

- (a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

## STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *530  FOR 11.04.2017

(a) & (b) :  The  details  of  inter-State  water  disputes  over  the  sharing  of  river water among various States is at Annexure-I. There are border disputes mostly arising  out  of  claims  and  counter  claims  over  territories  between  various States  in  the  country.  Boundary  disputes  relating  to  the  States  of  AssamMeghalaya, Assam-Nagaland, Assam-Arunachal Pradesh, Assam-Mizoram, Tripura-Mizoram and Maharashtra-Karnataka exist in the country.

The Government of the then Bombay State submitted a memorandum in 1957  demanding  re-adjustment  of  the  boundary  between  Maharashtra  and Mysore  (now  Karnataka)  on  the  basis  of  Marathi  speaking  areas  being transferred to Karnataka.

(c) : With  a  view  to  settle  the  boundary  dispute  between  Maharashtra  and Karnataka, the Central Government constituted the one-man Mahajan Commission, which submitted its report in August 1967. The Government of Karnataka have requested on the implementation of the recommendations of the Mahajan Commission in toto, while the Government of Maharashtra does not accept the Commission's recommendations. The Government of Maharashtra has filed a suit in the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, which is pending in the Apex Court.

## L.S.S.Q.NO.*530 FOR 11.04.2017

(d) & (e): The  approach  of  the  Central  Government  has  consistently  been that  inter-State  disputes  can  be  resolved  only  with  the  cooperation  of  the State Governments concerned and that the Central Government works only as a  facilitator  for  amicable  settlement  of  the  dispute  in  a  spirit  of  mutual accommodation and understanding.

## **********

## Status of Inter-State water disputes over the sharing of river water under Tribunals

|   S. No | Name of Tribunal/Dis pute           | States concerned                                               | Date of constitution of Tribunal   | Present Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|---------|-------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal    | Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh &Odisha | April, 1969                        | Award given on July, 1980                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|       2 | Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal -I  | Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,                        | April, 1969                        | Award given on May, 1976                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|       3 | Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal     | Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra             | October, 1969                      | Award given on December, 1979                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|       4 | Ravi & Beas Water Tribunal          | Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan                                  | April, 1986                        | Report and decision under section 5(2) given in April, 1987. Clarification/explanation sought from the Tribunal under Section 5(3) of the said Act by the party States. Presidential Reference 1 of 2004 was made on the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004. The Hon'ble Supreme Court has pronounced the judgement on Presidential Reference in negative. Further, Government of Haryana has filed IA No. 6 of 2016 in OS No. 6 of 1996 in the matter. The matter is subjudice. |
|       5 | Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal     | Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puduchery                    | June, 1990                         | Report and decision given on 5.2.2007 which was published vide Notification dated 19.2.2013. Further, report of CWDT u/s 5(3) of the Act is awaited. The party States have also filed Civil Appeals against the order of CWDT dated 5.2.2007 before the Supreme Court. Supreme Court has passed a judgement dated 09.12.2016 on the admissibility of Civil Appeals filed by the party States and upheld the maintainability of the Civil Appeals. As such the matter is subjudice.       |
|       6 | Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal -II | Karnataka, Telengana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra           | April, 2004                        | Report and decision given on 30.12. 2010. Further report given by the Tribunal on 29.11.2013. However, as per Supreme Court Order dated 16.9.2011, till further order, decision taken by the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |

|   S. No | Name of Tribunal/Dis pute          | States concerned               | Date of constitution of Tribunal                                                                                                      | Present Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------|------------------------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       7 | Vansadhara Water Disputes Tribunal | Andhra Pradesh &Odisha         | February, 2010 However, as per the Supreme Court order the date of reckoning of the constitution of the Tribunal is w.e.f. 17.9.2012  | been extended for a further period of two year w.e.f. 1 st August, 2014, and thereafter for a further period of one year w.e.f. 01.08.2016, to address the terms of reference as contained in section 89 of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. The matter is under adjudication in the Tribunal. The Government of Telengana has filed a SLP 33623- 26 of 2014 and WP(C) 545 of 2015 in the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the matter. The matter is thus sub- judice. Report and decision not given by the Tribunal. Vansadhara Water Disputes Tribunal in its Interim Order dated 17.12.2013 has directed to constitute a 3-member Protem Supervisory Flow Management and Regulation Committee on River Vansadhara to implement its Order. State Govt. of Odisha has filed Special Leave to Appeal (Civil) No.3392 of 2014 with regard to the Vansadhara Water Disputes Tribunal Judgement dated 17.12.2013. The matter is sub- judice. Report and Decision not given by |
|       8 | Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal   | Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra | November, 2010 However, vide notification dated 13.11.2014 date of reckoning of the constitution of the Tribunal is w.e.f. 21.08.2013 | the Tribunal u/s 5(2) of ISRWD Act, 1956.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|       9 | Mahanadi                           | Odisha, Chattishgarh           | Request from Govt of Odisha received as per ISRWD Act 1956                                                                            | Negotiation Committee constituted by this Ministry as per ISRWD Act 1956 on dated 19.01.2017                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |