Inter-State River Water Disputes Resolution in India

News: The Union government will form a high-level expert committee to address inter-state water issues between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Krishna and Godavari rivers.

About Inter-State River Water Disputes Resolution in India

• Constitutional and legal framework
  • Article 262 of the Constitution: It empowers Parliament to legislate for the adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-state rivers or river valleys.
    • It also allows Parliament to bar the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and other courts over such disputes.
  • Entry 56 of the Union List: Regulation and development of inter-State rivers and river valleys.
  • Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956: It serves as the chief statutory mechanism for resolving such disputes.
    • It provides for the establishment of Water Disputes Tribunals for the adjudication of disputes among states regarding the sharing of river waters.
    • Defined time limits: The Act was most recently amended in 2002 to set defined time limits for tribunal formation and award.
  • Resolution mechanisms
    • Negotiation and agreement: Initially, states are encouraged to resolve disputes through dialogue and mutual agreement.
    • Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC): When negotiations fail, the Central Government may constitute a Disputes Resolution Committee (DRC) comprising a chairperson, expert members, and representatives from the disputing states.
      • The DRC is tasked to reach an amicable settlement through negotiation, typically within one year (extendable by six months).
    • Water Disputes Tribunal: If the DRC cannot resolve the issue, the matter is referred to a dedicated Water Disputes Tribunal.
      • The tribunal must be constituted within a year of the request and is expected to deliver its decision within three years (extendable by two more years). Its decisions are binding on the contested parties.
      • Tribunals have been set up for rivers including Krishna, Cauvery, Mahanadi, Mahadayi, Ravi & Beas, Vansadhara, etc.