Lok Sabha Question No. 4237 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-19
Subject: Amendment to ISRWD Act
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shobha Karandlaje

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4237

ANSWERED ON 1 9.0 3.2020

## AMENDMENT TO ISRWD A CT

## 4237. KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Union Government seeks to amend the Inter State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act streamline  the  adjudication  of  Inter  State  river  water  disputes  and  if  so,  the  details  ther along  with  the tribunals constituted so far;

(b) whether the Union Government had constituted Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal in December, adjudication of the water disputes with State of Karnataka and Maharashtra and if so, details o nal's award;

(c) whether the Union Government has issued a notification on sharing the waters of Mahadayi a details thereof;

(d)  whether  the  Government  of  Karnataka  has  submitted  three  Memorandums  to  the  Union  Gover recently and if so, the details thereof and the action taken on the matter; and

(e) the details of Kalasa Banduri Nala Project?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a) The  Parliament  has  enacted  Inter - State  River  Water  Disputes  (ISRWD)  Act,  1956  for  adjudication disputes relating to waters of inter - State rivers and river valley thereof. A Bill namely, Inter - State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019 has been pa ssed by Lok Sabha on 31.07.2019. The Bill seeks to stream the  adjudication  of  inter - State  river  water  disputes  and  make  the  present  legal  and  institutional robust by amending the existing ISRWD Act, 1956. The proposed Bill seeks to provide for a single permanent Tribunal  instead  of  multiple  Tribunals.  Enactment  of  the  ISRWD  (Amendments)  Bill  will  facil adjudication of water disputes.

The Central Government has, so far, set up 09 tribunals to settle water disputes amo States under the ISRWD Act, 1956.

(b)  The Central Government constituted the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) by Notificati 16th November, 2010 under Section 4 of the Inter - State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 for adjudication o waterdisputes relating to the inter - State iver Mahadayi, and the river valley thereof. The MWDT submitt report under Section 5(2) of the ISRWD Act, 1956 to the Central Government on 14.08.2018.

(c)   The Central Government has notified the Award and Fi nal Decision of the MWDT given on 14.08.2018 in the Gazette of India vide notification No. S.O. 888(E). dated 27.02.2020.

(d)      The  Hon'ble  Chief  Minister  of  Karnataka  vide  letters  dated  28.10.2019  and  06.08.2019  requested  the Central Government to publis h the decision of the MWDT given under Section 5(2) of the ISRWD Act, 195 the Official Gazette of India. Also, the Hon'ble Minister for Water Resources, Government of Karnataka vide letter  dated  25.02.2020  requested  the  Central  Government  for  notificat ion of the decision/final order of MWDT.

(e)   As per the information furnished by Government of Karnataka, two Dams, one across Kalas another across Banduri Nala, tributaries of Mahadayi river have been proposed to divert water a river for meeting drinking water supply of Hubli - Dharwad twin cities, Kundagol town, en route villages, et