Inter-State Water Disputes Tribunals
Introduction
Water is a precious resource that is essential for life. It is also a finite resource, and as the world’s population continues to grow, the demand for water will only increase. This is leading to increased competition for water resources, both within and between countries.
In India, there are a number of inter-state water disputes. These disputes arise when two or more states share a water resource, and there is disagreement about how the resource should be managed. The Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956, was enacted to provide a mechanism for resolving these disputes.
The Act establishes a Central Water Commission (CWC) and a number of Inter-State Water Disputes Tribunals (IWDTs). The CWC is responsible for collecting data on water resources and for preparing reports on inter-state water disputes. The IWTs are responsible for hearing and deciding inter-state water disputes.
The Central Water Commission
The CWC is a statutory body established under the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956. The CWC is responsible for the following:
- Collecting data on water resources in India
- Preparing reports on inter-state water disputes
- Advising the Central Government on water resources management
- Implementing water resources projects
The CWC has a number of divisions, including the following:
- The Planning Division is responsible for planning and implementing water resources projects.
- The Research Division is responsible for conducting research on water resources.
- The Data Bank Division is responsible for collecting and maintaining data on water resources.
- The Training Division is responsible for providing training on water resources management.
The CWC is headed by a Chief Engineer, who is assisted by a number of other engineers and scientists. The CWC has its headquarters in New Delhi, and it has regional offices in all the states of India.
The Inter-State Water Disputes Tribunals
The IWTs are quasi-judicial bodies established under the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956. The IWTs are responsible for hearing and deciding inter-state water disputes.
The IWTs are composed of a chairman and two members. The chairman is a retired judge of the Supreme Court or the High Court. The members are experts in water resources management.
The IWTs have the following powers:
- To summon and examine witnesses
- To call for the production of documents
- To make inquiries
- To award compensation
The IWTs are required to give their awards within a period of two years from the date of their constitution. The awards of the IWTs are final and binding on the parties to the dispute.
Inter-State Water Disputes
There are a number of inter-state water disputes in India. Some of the major inter-state water disputes include the following:
- The Cauvery River Dispute
- The Krishna River Dispute
- The Narmada River Dispute
- The Ganga River Dispute
The Cauvery River Dispute is a dispute between the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. The dispute is over the sharing of the waters of the Cauvery River. The Krishna River Dispute is a dispute between the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana. The dispute is over the sharing of the waters of the Krishna River. The Narmada River Dispute is a dispute between the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The dispute is over the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River. The Ganga River Dispute is a dispute between the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Uttarakhand. The dispute is over the sharing of the waters of the Ganga River.
Conclusion
Inter-state water disputes are a major challenge in India. The IWTs are an important mechanism for resolving these disputes. However, the IWTs have been criticized for being slow and expensive. There is a need to improve the efficiency of the IWTs.