Lok Sabha Question No. 147 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-02
Subject: Cauvery and Mahadayi River Water Sharing Disputes
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH, NALIN KUMAR KATEEL, B.N. CHANDRAPPA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 147 ANSWERED ON 02.02.2017

## CAUVERY AND MAHADAYI RIVER WATER SHARING DISPUTES

## 147. SHRI D.K. SURESH SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL SHRI B.N. CHANDRAPPA

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  people  of  Karnataka  are  facing  drinking  water  crisis  due  to insufficient water storage as a result of deficient rainfall, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has taken note that farmers and pro-Kannada outfit activists protested in various parts of the State relating to river disputes such as Cauvery and Mahadayi rivers, if so the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is taking any steps to intervene in the water sharing disputes and settle the issues to put an end to the problem; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a)  &  (b)    During  the  meeting  of  Supervisory  Committee  on  Cauvery  held  in  September,  2016,  the Government of Karnataka highlighted  the drinking water requirement of Cauvery Basin areas of Karnataka. Further, to meet drinking water requirement of Cauvery areas, the Chief Minister of Karnataka in August, 2015 wrote  to  the  Central  Government  about  the  need  to  transfer  water  from  Mahadayi  basin  to  Hubli  Dharwad areas of Karnataka.

(c) & (d) The Supervisory Committee on Cauvery held meeting with the representatives of the basin States on 12.09.2016 and 19.09.2016. As per directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court vide its order dated 27.09.2016 the Ministry convened meeting with the Hon'ble Chief Ministers of the basin States on 29.09.2016. Further, the Hon'ble Supreme Court  vide its order dated 4.10.2016 constituted a High Level  Technical team. This team visited  the  Cauvery  basin reservoirs  and  command  areas  of Karnataka  and Tamil  Nadu from 07.10.2016 to 10.10.2016  to assess ground realities of Cauvery Basin. The Committee submitted its report on 18.10.2016 to Hon'ble  Court  and  the  same  was  taken  on  record.    As  on  date,  the  matter    is  pending  adjudication  in  the Supreme Court and hence subjudice.

With a view to adjudicate inter-states water disputes, this Ministry had constituted  different Inter-State water disputes Tribunals under ISRWD Act, 1956 whenever requests were received from party States. The details and the status of the Inter-State Water Dispute Tribunals in the country is at ANNEXURE-I.

To streamline the adjudication of disputes of inter-state river waters , a proposal to amend the  existing InterState  River  Water  Dispute  Act,  1956,  has  been  considered  and  approved  by  Cabinet  on  7.12.2016.    This Ministry has initiated the process of introduction of the proposal in the Parliament.

Annexure referred in reply to parts (c) to (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 147 to be answered on 2.2.2017.

## Status of Inter-State water disputes Tribunal constituted under ISRWD Act, 1956

|   S. No | Name of Tribunal                        | States concerned                                               | Date of constitution   | Present Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|---------|-----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) | 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 ISRWD Act by the party States.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|       5 | Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT)  | 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. Clarification/explanation sought from the Tribunal under Section 5(3) of the said Act by the party States. Also, Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by party States in Hon'ble Supreme Court,                                                                                                            |
|       6 | Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal -II     | Karnataka, Telengana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra           | April, 2004            | as such the matter is sub-judice. 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 Tribunal on references filed by States and Central Government shall not be published in the official Gazette. As such, matter is sub- judice. Term of the Tribunal has |

|   S. No | Name of Tribunal                   | States concerned               | Date of constitution                                                                                                                  | 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  | Hon'ble Supreme Court in the matter. The matter is sub-judice. Vansadhara Water Disputes Tribunal in its 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. Final Report and Decision under Section 5(2) of the ISRWD Act, 1956 not given by the Tribunal. |
|       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 | Tribunal yet to submit its final report.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |