(a) whether the Union Government is aware that several disputes are arising between the State Governments regarding sharing of water;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Union Government is considering to set up an integrated water disputes tribunal to settle all inter-State water disputes;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the progress made in this regard so far?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)
(a) & (b) The Parliament has enacted Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956 for adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers and river valley thereof. When any request under the said Act is received from any State Government in respect of any water dispute on the 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 adjudication of the water dispute.
The Central Government has, so far, set up 09 tribunals to settle water disputes among the States under the ISRWD Act, 1956. The status of various inter-State water disputes Tribunals is at Annexure.
(c) to (e) A Bill namely, Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019 has been passed by Lok Sabha on 31.07.2019. The Bill seeks to streamline the adjudication of inter-State river water disputes and make the present legal and institutional architecture 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 facilitate faster adjudication of water disputes.
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ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †4035 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 12.12.2019 REGARDING “INTEGRATED WATER DISPUTES TRIBUNAL”.
Status of Inter-State Water Disputes Tribunals constituted under ISRWD Act, 1956
S.
No Name of Tribunal States concerned Date of constitution Present Status
1 Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh &Odisha 10th April, 1969 Award given in July, 1980.
2 Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal -I Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, 10th April, 1969 Award given in May, 1976
3 Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra 6th October, 1969 Award given in December, 1979
4 Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puduchery 2nd June, 1990 Report and decision under section 5(2) of ISRWD Act given on 5.2.2007 and published vide Notification dated 19.2.2013. Pursuant to Supreme Court verdict dated 16.02.2018, the Tribunal has been dissolved vide Gazette Notification No. S.O. 3465(E) dated 16.07.2018.
5 Ravi & Beas Water Tribunal Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan 2nd April, 1986 Report and decision under section 5(2) of ISRWD Act given in April, 1987. Clarification/explanation sought from the Tribunal under Section 5(3) of the said Act by the party States. The matter is subjudice.
6 Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal -II Karnataka, Telengana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra 2nd April, 2004 Report and decision under section 5(2) of ISRWD Act given on 30.12.2010. 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 matter is sub-judice.
The Tribunal is currently hearing matters as per section 89 of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
7 Vansadhara Water Disputes Tribunal Andhra Pradesh &Odisha 24th February, 2010
Effective date of constitution 17th September, 2012 Report and decision under section 5(2) of ISRWD Act given on 13.09.2017. 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.
8 Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra 16th November, 2010
Effective date of constitution 21st August, 2013. Report and decision under section 5(2) of ISRWD Act given on 14.08.2018. 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.
9 Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal Odisha and Chhattisgarh 12th March, 2018 Matter is sub-judice before the Tribunal under section 5(2) of ISRWD Act.
• ISRWD Act: Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956
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