(a) whether the Government of Tamil Nadu has requested the Union Government for nationalization of all Inter-State rivers as a long term solution to resolve the disputes over sharing of rivers water;
(b) if so, whether the Government has been urged to ensure that
awards given by various tribunals are honoured; and
(c) if so, the response of the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI ARJUN CHARAN SETHI)
(a) to (c) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO THE REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF THE STARRED
QUESTION NO. 201 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2.12.2002 IN LOK SABHA
REGARDING NATIONALISATION OF RIVERS.
(a) No, Sir.
(b) & (c) However, the State of Tamil Nadu has filed an Original
Suit No. 3 of 2002 before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in
July, 2002 against the State of Karnataka and Union of India for
declaring the notification of the Cauvery River Authority (CRA)
ineffective and directing the Central Government to frame either a
new scheme in substitution/replacement of the existing CRA or an
additional scheme making adequate provisions therein for all
matters necessary to give effect to the interim order dated
25.6.91 passed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has been writing to the Prime
Minister making requests on similar lines as the prayers made in
the said suit. The Hon’ble Supreme Court has passed a series of
Orders in the Applications filed in the said Suit from July, 2002
onwards for ensuring implementation of the interim order of the
CWDT as also directing the State of Karnataka for releasing water
from its reservoirs to ensure definite quantity of water in
Mettur reservoir of Tamil Nadu. The CRA has held 3 meetings from
July, 2002 onwards for ensuring implementation of interim order of
the CWDT. The Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 has been
amended on March 28, 2002 to provide for time-bound adjudication
of disputes by the Tribunals. Also as per the amended Act, the
decision of the Tribunal, after its publication in the Official
Gazette, shall have the same force as an order or decree of the
Supreme Court.