Lok Sabha Question No. 2200 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-12
Subject: Inter-State River Water Disputes
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Tangella Uday Srinivas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2200

ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026

## INTER-STATE RIVER WATER DISPUTES

## 2200. SHRI TANGELLA UDAY SRINIVAS:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the number of inter-State river water disputes presently pending, river and State-wise;

(b) the details of institutional mechanisms in place for resolution of such disputes including river boards, tribunals, inter-State negotiations and other statutory arrangements and the outcomes achieved during the last ten years;

(c) whether the Government has undertaken any assessment of economic, agricultural and developmental losses suffered by States due to prolonged pendency of inter-State river water disputes;

(d) if so, the details of such assessments including estimated economic costs, State-wise;

(e) the current status of inter-State river water disputes involving Andhra Pradesh including those relating to the Krishna river basin;

(f)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  expedite  resolution  of  pending  inter-State  river  water  disputes including the Krishna river dispute through legislative, administrative or consensual mechanisms and if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the timelines fixed, concrete measures proposed and the steps taken to ensure equitable water sharing and protection of public interest?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a)  & (b) For adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-state rivers and river valley thereof, the Parliament has enacted the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (hereinafter referred to as the Act). When any request under the Act is received from any State Government in respect of any water dispute on inter-State rivers and the Central Government is of the opinion that the water dispute cannot be settled by negotiations,  the  Central  Government  constitutes  a  Water  Disputes  Tribunal  for  the  adjudication  of  the water dispute. Currently, four Water Disputes Tribunals are active, details of which are given at Annexure .

(c) & (d) No such assessment of economic, agricultural and developmental losses suffered by States due to prolonged pendency of inter-State River water disputes has been conducted.

(e) The State of Andhra Pradesh is involved in the ongoing Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDTII).  The  KWDT-II  has  given  its  report  and  decision  under  Section  5(3)  of  the  Act  on  29.11.2013 recommending  allocating  of  water  amongst  the  States  of  Andhra  Pradesh,  Maharashtra  and  Karnataka. However, on account of stay by Supreme Court vide its order dated 16.09.2011, the award could not be published  in  the  Official  Gazette  in  terms  of  Section  6(1)  of  the  Act,  and  the  matter  is  still  sub-judice before the Hon'ble Supreme Court.

Subsequently,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the  adjudication  by  KWDT-II  on  the  terms  of  reference specified in section 89 of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, was still going on, the tenure of the Tribunal  had  been  extended,  year  by  year.   Meanwhile,  the  Central  Government  has  also  referred  the further Terms of References to the existing KWDT-II for adjudication the Krishna waters dispute between the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana only vide notification dated 06.10.2023. Presently, the term of the Tribunal has been extended for a further period of one year from 01.08.2025 i.e. till 31.07.2026 vide Gazette Notification dated 10.07.2025.

(f) & (g) Presently, the Inter-State River Water Dispute Act, 1956 as amended from time to time, is the legal mechanism available for resolution of inter-State River water disputes.  The procedure and timeline for  adjudication/resolution  of  water  disputes  is  already  laid  down  in  the  said  Act.  The  Act  stipulates establishment  of  Tribunal  for  adjudication  of  river  disputes,  and  accordingly,  in  Krishna  River  water dispute, KWDT-II has been constituted.

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## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2200 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 12.02.2026 REGARDING 'INTER-STATE RIVER WATER DISPUTES'.

## List of ongoing Water Disputes Tribunals

|   Sl. No. | Tribunal                                     | Date of formation                      | Name River   | of Party States                                          | Present Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-----------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|--------------|----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Ravi Beas Waters Tribunal (RBWT)             | 02.04.1986                             | Ravi Beas    | & Punjab, Haryana Rajasthan                              | & Report and decision under section 5(2) of ISRWD Act was submitted to Central Government. Matters u/s 5(3) of the Act are sub-judice in Tribunal. The Tenure of Tribunal has been extended till 05.08.2026.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|         2 | Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) | 02.04.2004                             | Krishna      | Maharashtra, Karnataka Present Andhra Pradesh, Telangana | & Further report under section 5(3) given by the Tribunal on 29.11.2013. However, as per Supreme Court Order dated 16.9.2011, till further order, report/decision of the Tribunal shall not be published in the official Gazette. The Tribunal is currently hearing matters as per section 89 of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. Tenure of                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|         3 | Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT)      | 16.11.2010 (effective date 21.08.2013) | Mahadayi     | Goa, Karnataka &Maharashtra                              | Tribunal extended till 31.07.2026. The Tribunal submitted its report and decision under Section 5(2) of the ISRWD Act, 1956 to Central Government on 14.8.2018. Pursuant to Hon'ble Supreme Court Order dated 20.02.2020, the Central Government has published MWDT Award dated 14.08.2018 u/s 5(2) vide Notification No. S.O. 888(E) dated 27.02.2020. Further references under section 5(3) have been filed by the party States and the Central Government before the Tribunal. The matter is sub- judice. Tenure of Tribunal extended for further one year till 15.08.2026. |
|         4 | Mahanadi Tribunal                            | 12.03.2018                             | Mahanadi     | Odisha Chhattisgarh                                      | & Matter u/s 5(2) of the Act under is sub- judice in Tribunal. Tenure of Tribunal extended till 13.04.2026.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |

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