Lok Sabha Question No. 3760 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-03
Subject: Inter-State River Water Sharing Agreements
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: NIHAL CHAND CHAUHAN

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO.

## †3760 ANSWERED ON 03.01 .201 9

## INTER - STATE RIVER WATER SH ARING AGREEMENTS

## †3760. SHRI NIHAL CHAND

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

(a) the date on which first inter - State water agreement was reached and the number of States involved in it along with the scheme chalked out by the Gover nment f r distribution of water of States;

(b) whether States are getting water as per inter - State water agreements;

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d)  whether  Rajasthan,  Punjab  and  Haryana  are  getting  their  due  share  o f  water  as  per agreement; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a) to (c) As per publication of Central Water Commission (CWC)  titled 'Legal Instruments on Rivers in India - Agreement on inter -State Rivers' (October 2015), an agreement on use of water from Sirhind Canal was executed in 1873 between the British Government the  S tates  of  Patiala,  Jind  and  Nabha.  Parties  to  the  aforesaid  agreement  are  no  l existence. No information about agreements signed prior to the year 1873 is availabl aforesaid publication.

Parties to agreements/decisions of Tribunals (Tribuna ls set up under Inter - State  River Water Disputes Act, 1956 to settle water disputes among the States) are entitled to the water  in  concerned  river  basin  as  per  provisions  of  such  agreements/decision  of  Tri Supply  of  water  to  concerned  Sta tes  varies  on  year  to  year  basis  depending  mainly  on availability of water in the basin in a particular year and other relevant factors and by the concerned Board/Authority/regulatory body functioning in a particular river basin

(d) & (e) The Bhakra - Nangal Agreement, was entered into year 1959 for distribution of Sat water amongst the erstwhile State of Punjab and Rajasthan. Later, after reorganization o into  Punjab  and  Haryana  during  the  year  1966,    the  distribu tion  of  Satluj  water  among  the Partner States of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan is being done as per General Manager, B Dam letter dated 20.12.1966.

For  the  distribution  of  surplus  Ravi - Beas  water,  the  first  agreement  was  entered  on 29.1.1955. After r eorganisation of Punjab in 1966, the Central Government issued Notificat dated 24.3.1976 under Punjab Re - organization Act, 1966 for distribution of surplus Ravi -Beas waters to the States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, J&K and Delhi. Later, an agreemen was signed between the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan on 31.12.1981.

Bhakra  Beas  Management  Board  (BBMB)  has  further  informed  that  the  deliveries  t States are given as per requirements projected by States and restricted to safe carrying capacities of  the  system.  The  same  is  decided  by  the  Technical  Committee  which  comprises representatives of the partner States of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan and also office CWC and Agriculture Department, in its monthly meeting.

*****