Lok Sabha Question No. 3317 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-12
Subject: Inter-State River Water Disputes
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dr. M P Abdussamad Samadani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3317

## ANSWERED ON 12.03.2026

## INTER-STATE RIVER WATER DISPUTES

## 3317. Dr. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the existing statutory and institutional mechanisms for adjudication of inter-State river water disputes under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956;

(b)  whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  reforms  to  ensure  time-bound  constitution  and functioning  of  Water  Disputes  Tribunals  including  amendments  to  the  said  Act  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;

(c) the number of inter-State water disputes presently pending before tribunals or other fora along with the average time taken for their resolution; and

(d) whether the Government proposes to establish a permanent tribunal or strengthen alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to ensure expeditious, transparent and cooperative resolution of such disputes and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) The  Inter-State  River  Water  Disputes  Act,  1956  (as  amended  from  time  to  time)  provides  the statutory  mechanism  for  adjudication  of  disputes  relating  to  the  waters  of  inter-State  rivers  and  river valleys. When a request under section 3 of the Act is received from any State Government in respect of a water dispute, as defined in Section 2(c) of the Act,  and the Central Government is of opinion that the water dispute cannot be settled by negotiations, the Central Government under section 4 (1) of the Act constitutes a Water Disputes Tribunal for the adjudication of the water dispute.

The Tribunal investigates the matters referred to it and adjudicates the dispute and exercises powers similar to those of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. Further, Section 6A of the Act provides  that  the  Central  Government  may  frame  a  scheme  for  implementation  of  the  decision  of  the Tribunal, which may include establishment of an authority for implementation of such decision.

(b) The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 has been amended from time to time to strengthen the mechanism for adjudication of inter-State River water disputes. Accordingly, necessary amendment

was undertaken in the year 2002, to provide timelines for adjudication of the dispute. These timelines have been prescribed in Section 5 of the Act.

(c) At  present,  four  Inter-State  River  Water  Disputes  Tribunals,  namely  Krishna  Water  Disputes Tribunal (KWDT)-II, Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal, Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal and Ravi &  Beas  Waters  Tribunal,  are  in  existence  for  adjudication  of  disputes  among  the  co-basin  States.  In addition,  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  in  the  recent  judgement  has  ordered  for  constitution  of  Tribunal  in Pennaiyar  basin. The  time  taken  for  resolution  of  such  water  disputes  depend  on  the  complexity  of references /issues involved, submissions made by the party States before tribunal and many other relevant factors. Hence, no fixed time/average time can be indicated for resolution of such disputes.

(d) With regard to establishment of a permanent tribunal, no decision has been taken by the Central Government.  However,  the  Inter-State  River  Water  Disputes  (Amendment)  Bill,  2019,  which  was introduced in the 17th Lok Sabha, proposed certain institutional reforms for the expeditious resolution of inter-State river water disputes. These included the establishment of a permanent Tribunal, constitution of a  Dispute  Resolution  Committee  for  amicable  settlement  of  disputes,  and  provisions  for  time-bound adjudication, among others. With dissolution of 17th Lok Sabha, the Bill has lapsed.

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