Lok Sabha Question No. 6212 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-05
Subject: Water Disputes
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: RAHUL KASWAN, ARJUNLAL MEENA, SANTOSH AHLAWAT

†6212.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO.

## †6212

ANSWERED ON 05.0 4.201 8

## WATER DISPUTES

SHRI RAHUL KASWAN SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  several  States  of  the  country  including  Haryana,  Punjab,  Rajasthan  and  Uttar embroiled in various water disputes;

(b) if so, the details and the nature of the said disputes along with the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Union Government has received any proposals from Rajasthan regarding supp share of water from other States without any further delay;

(d)if  so,  the  details  and  the  current  status  thereof  along  with  the  reaction  of  the  Un thereto; and

(e) the reasons for delay in resolving these disputes and the effective steps taken/ propos resolve them immediately along wit h the time by which these disputes are likely to be resolved?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a) & (b)The  Parliament  has  enacted  Inter - State  River  Water  Disputes  (ISRWD)  Act,  1956  for adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter - State rivers and river valley thereof. When any re under the said Act is received from any State Government in respe ct of any water dispute on the inte -State rivers  and the Central Government is of the opinion that the water dispute cannot negotiations, the Central Government constitutes a Water Disputes Tribunal for the adjudi water dispute. Currently, 5 water disputes Tribunals are active, details of which are given in Annexure .

Further, the State of Odisha filed complaint dated 19.11.2016 under Section 3 of the 1956 in respect of Mahanadi basin to the Central Government. Odisha also filed Original Suit No.1/2017 in  the  Supreme  Court  of  India  for  constitution  of  a  Water  Dispute  Tribunal  for  adjudica disputes  between  Odisha  and  Chhattisgarh.  The  Original  Suit  was  disposed  of  in  the  final 23.01.2018  with  dir ections  to  the  Central  Government  to  constitute  Water  Dispute  Tribu adjudication of the water dispute between the concerned States within a period of one month of order. Accordingly, the Central Government has constituted Mahanadi Wate r Disputes Tribunal vide Notification No. S.O. 1114(E) dated 12.03.2018.

Further, the States of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Natio Territory of Delhi having their geographical areas in the Yamuna river basin upto Okhla signed a MoU on 12 th May, 1994 regarding allocation of surface flow of Yamuna upto Okhla. Presently, there sharing dispute amongst the basin States for sharing Yamuna water.

However, issue regarding less availability of water with respect to its allocated share of Yamu water, raised by Rajasthan have been discussed in the meetings of Upper Yamuna River Board and Upper Yamuna Review Committee (UYRC).

(c) & (d) The Ravi and Beas river water disputes amongst the States of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan is presently subjudice before the Ravi & Beas Water Tribunal (details given in the Annexure ).

State of Rajasthan has further proposed to restore 0.6 MAF of surplus waters out of Ravi-Beas waters. Punjab ha s some issues in this regard.

State of Rajasthan has also requested for supply of 0.17 MAF of Ravi - Beas waters through Bhakra Main Line ex - Nangal for Sidhmukh Nohar areas. Haryana has some issues in these matters. Rajas also filed a suit in the ma tter which is under consideration of the Supreme Court. The matter is subjudice.

Further, State of Rajasthan has submitted a feasibility report to Central Water Commis on  "Transfer  of  Rajasthan's  share  in  Yamuna  water  from  Tajewala  head works  to  Rajasthan  and  it's utilization in Jhunjhuna and Churu District of Rajasthan". The report has been examined in CWC and 'in principle consent' for preparation of Detailed Project Report of the project has been conveyed by CWC.

(e)In order to furth er streamline the adjudication of inter - State river water disputes, the Inter - State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister for WR, R on 14.03.2017 by amending the existing ISRWD Act, 1956. The Bill env isages to constitute a standalon Tribunal with permanent establishment and permanent office space and infrastructure so as to the need to set up a separate Tribunal for each water dispute which is invariably time -consuming process. In the pr oposed Bill, there is a provision for establishment of a Dispute Resolution Committe the Central Government for resolving amicably, the inter -State water disputes within a maximum period of one year and six months. Any dispute, which cannot be s ettled by negotiations shall be referred t Tribunal for its adjudication. The dispute so referred to the Tribunal shall be assigned by of the Tribunal to a Bench of the Tribunal for adjudication. The proposed amendments in l speed up the adjudication of water disputes referred to it. The Bill was referred to Parlia Committee on Water Resources for examination. The Standing Committee has submitte recommendation on the Bill vide Lok Sabha Secretariat lette r dated 11.08.2017 in the form of 'Nineteenth Report of Standing Committee on Water Resources on the Inter - State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017'. Accordingly, the Ministry has prepared draft Cabinet Note for Official Amendments to Inter -State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

## Annexure referred to in reply to Parts (a)to(d)of the Unstarred Question No. † 6212 to be answered in Lok Sabha on 05.04.2018 regarding 'Water Disputes'

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

1987.

Punjab

Notification

Central

|   S. No | Name of Tribunal                    | States concerned                                     | Date of constitution   | Present Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|---------|-------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Ravi & Beas Water Tribunal          | Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan                        | April, 1986            | Report and decision under section given in April, Clarification/explanation sought Tribunal under Section 5(3) of the by the party States. Presidential of 2004 was made on the Termination of Agreements Act, 2 004. The Hon'ble Supreme Court has pronounced the judgement on Presidential Reference negative. Further, Government of has filed IA No. 6 of 2016 in OS 1996 in the matter. The matter is                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|       2 | Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal     | Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puduchery          | June, 1990             | Report and decision given on which was published vide dated 19.2.2013. The party States filed Civil Appeals against the CWDT dated 5.2.2007 before the Court . In this regard, the Supreme                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|       3 | Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal -II | Karnataka, Telengana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra | April, 2004            | has pronounced its verdict 16.02.2018. Report and decision given on 30.12. Further report given by the Tribunal 29.11.2013. However, as per Court Order dated 16.9.2011, till order, decision taken by the references filed by States and Government shall not be published official Gazette. As such, matter - jud ice. Term of the Tribunal was for a period of two years w.e.f. 1 st August, 2014 to address the terms of contained in section 89 of Andhra Reorganisation Act, 2014. term of the Tribunal has been twice f or one year each viz. for a one year w.e.f. 01.08.2016 and for of one year w.e.f. 01.08.2017. The under adjudication in the Government of Telengana has filed a 33623- 26 of 2014 and WP(C) 545 of in the Hon 'ble Supreme Court in the matter. The matter is thus -sub judice. |

13.09.2017.

|   S. No | Name of Tribunal                   | States concerned               | Date of constitution                                                                                                                  | Present Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|---------|------------------------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       4 | Vansadhara Water Disputes Tribunal | Andhra Pradesh &Odisha         | February, 2010 However, as per the Supreme Court order date of reckoning of constitution the Tribunal w.e.f. 17.9.2012                | the the of is The Tribunal has submitted its report Central Government under Section the ISRWD Act, 1956 on Further, State of Odisha and the Government have filed reference Section 5(3) of the ISRWD Act, 11.12.2 017 and 12.12.2017 The matter is thus under adjudication Tribunal. |
|       5 | 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 | Report and Decision not given by Tribunal u/s 5(2) of ISRWD Act, 1956.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |