Lok Sabha Question No. 1722 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-20
Subject: Inter-state River Water Sharing Disputes
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: K.R.P. PRABAKARAN

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 1722

ANSWERED ON 20.12 .201 8

## INTER - STATE RIVER WATER SH ARING DISPUTES

## 1722. SHRI K.R.P. PRABAKARAN

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

- (a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  large  number  of  inter - State  river  water  disputes  have  been  pending  i various courts for the final decision;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to ensure that the resolved in a timebound manner;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to amend inter - State River Water Disputes Act, 1956; and

(d) if so, the details and the sta tus thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a)  to  (d ) 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  a request under the said Act is received from any State Government in respe ct of any water dispute on the inter - State rivers and the Central Government is of the opinion that the water dispute cann by negotiations, the Central Government constitutes a Water Disputes Tribunal for the adju the  water  dispute. Currently,  5  water  disputes  Tribunals  are  active,  details  of  which  are Annexure .

In order to further 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, RD & GR on 14.03.2017 by amending the existing ISRWD Act, 1956. The Bill envisages to cons a standalone Tribunal with permanent establishment and permanent office space and infrast as to obviate with the ne ed to set up a separate Tribunal for each water dispute which is inv time  consuming  process.  In  the  proposed  Bill,  there  is  a  provision  for  establishment  o Resolution Committee (DRC) by the Central Government for resolving amicably, the nter -State water disputes within a maximum period of one year and six months. Any dispute, which cannot be s negotiations shall be referred to the Tribunal for its adjudication. The dispute so referre shall be assigned by the C hairperson of the Tribunal to a Bench of the Tribunal for adjudicati proposed amendments in the Bill will speed up the adjudication of water disputes referred t was referred to Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources for ex amination. The Standing Committee  has  submitted  its  recommendation  on  the  Bill  vide  Lok  Sabha  Secretariat  let 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.

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## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS ( a)  TO  ( d) OF  THE  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO. 1722 TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LO K  SABHA  ON  20.12.201 8  REGARDING 'INTER - STATE RIVER WATER SH ARING DISPUTES '

Status of active Inter - State Water Disputes Tribunals relating to the sharing of river water

|   S. No | Name of Tribunal                    | States concerned                                     | Date of constitution   | Present Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|---------|-------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal -II | Karnataka, Telengana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra | April, 2004            | Report and decision given on Further report given by the 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 - judice. Term of the Tribunal extended for a period twofyears 1 st August, 2014 to address the reference as contained in section Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation 2014. Thereafter, the term of the has been extended thrice for period year latest being w.e.f. The matter is under adjudication Tribunal. Further, the Government Telengana has filed a SLP 33623 - 26 of 2014 and WP(C) 545 of 2015 in Supreme Court in the matter. The is thus sub - judice. |
|       2 | Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal    | Odisha and Chhattisgarh                              | 12 th March, 2018      | The Government of Odisha had complaint dated 19.11.2016 with Ministry of Water Resources, Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under Section 3 of the -Inter State Water Disputes Act, 1956 read with ter - State River Water Dispute Rules, The Government of Odisha has Union Government for Constitution Tribunal under Section 4 (1) of - State River Water Disputes Act, adjudication of the water respect of the Inter - state River and its basin between the riparian of Odisha and Chhattisgarh and complaint to the Tribunal under (1) of the Inter - State River Disputes Act, 1956. The Central Government has                                                                                              |

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| S. No   | Name of Tribunal                   | States concerned               | Date of constitution                                                                                                          | Present Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------|------------------------------------|--------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         |                                    |                                |                                                                                                                               | Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal Notification dated Subsequently, the reference was the Tribunal under Section 5(1) ISRWD Act, 1956 on17.04.2018. The matter is thus under adjudication Tribunal.                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 3       | Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal   | Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra | November, 2010 However, vide notification 13.11.2014 date of reckoning of the constitution of the Tribunal w.e.f. 21.08.2013  | dated is Report and Decision u/s 5(2) of Act, 1956 has been submitted to Government on 14.08.2018. The Goa filed an application under 5(3) of the Act on 20.08.2018. The is thus under adjudication in the                                                                                                                                                           |
| 4       | 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 Act by the party States. Reference 1 of 2004 was made on Punjab Termination of Agreements 2 004. The Hon'ble Supreme Court has pronounced the judgement on Reference in negative. Government of Haryana has filed IA 6 of 2016 in OS No. 6 of 1996 |
| 5       | Vansadhara Water Disputes Tribunal | A ndhra Pradesh &Odisha        | February, 2010 However, as per the Supreme Court order date of reckoning of the constitution of the Tribunal w.e.f. 17.9.2012 | matter. The matter is subjudice. the is The Tribunal has submitted its the Central Government under 5(2) of the ISRWD Act, 1956 13.09.2017. Further, State of the Central Government have reference under Section 5(3) ISRWD Act, 1956 on 11.12.2017 12.12.2017 respectively. The thus under adjudication in the                                                     |

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