1. Department of Geography
Patna University
Inter-State River Water disputes in India
For M.A.(Final) Seminar, 15th July 2011
Anmol Utsav
Roll no.01
M.A. (Final)
Patna University

2. Water Resources of India
In Billion cubic meter
Share in World Water
Total Precipitation : 4000 Resources
4%
Total Water Availability : 1869 India
(4% of World Water Resources)
Total Utilizable Water : 1123 96% Rest
World
Surface Water : 690
Ground Water : 433 Total Utilisable
Water
Total River Basins : 113
Large : 14 39% Surface
Water
61%
Medium : 44 Ground
Water
Minor : 55
Source: India 2010, MIB, Govt. of India

3. Stress and Scarcity Level
Per Capita Availability
(Cubic meter per capita per year) 6000
5000
Water Availibilty
4000
3000 Water Stress Line
Water Scarcity Line
2000
1000
0
1951 1991 2001 2025 2050
Per Capita Water Availability : 1800 Cubic meter per year
Source: Ministry of Water Resources, Govt. of India

4. Inter-State River Water disputes
CAUSES
River doesn’t follow political
limits
Uneven distribution of Water
resources
Increasing Rainfall variability
and frequent draughts
Increasing demand of river
water
Regionalization of the national
polity

5. Major Disputes and Present Status
Date of Constitution of
River(s) States Date of Award
Tribunal
Krishna Maharashtra, Andhra April 1969 May 1976
Pradesh, Karnataka
Godavari Maharashtra, Andhra April 1969 July 1980
Pradesh, Karnataka,
Madhya Pradesh and
Orissa
Narmada Rajasthan, Madhya October 1969 December 1979
Pradesh, Gujarat,
Maharashtra
Cauvery Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil June 1990 Report u/s 5(2) received
Nadu and Union 5.2.2007
Territory of Pondicherry
Krishna Karnataka, Andhra April 2004 Report u/s 5(2) pending
Pradesh and
Maharashtra
Model/ Goa, Karnataka and Under Construction -
Mandovi/Mahadayi/ Maharshtra
Vansadhara Andhra Pradesh & Under Construction -
Orissa
Source: Ministry of Water Resources, Govt. of India

6. Dispute Settling Mechanism
Constitutional Provisions
Entry 17 in the State List : Water, irrigation and canal, water development and
Storage is a state subject, but qualified by Entry 56 in the Union List
Entry 56 in the Union List: Regulation and development of water under the
control of the union is declared by parliament by law to be expedient in the
public interest.
Article 262: Explicitly grants parliament the right to legislate over the matter in
Entry 56 and also gives primacy over the Supreme court.
Inter-State River Water Dispute Act (ISRWD),1956
Include provisions for the establishment of tribunals to adjudicate where
direct negotiations have failed
Centre has been entitled with the power of establishment of tribunal and
confirms the enforcement of the adjudication of tribunal

7. Methods of Resolution
STATE 1 State 2
State 1 State 3
CENTRE
(if asked NEGOTIATION STATE 2 Tribunal
for)
Eg. The Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal,
STATE 3 Krishna River Water Disputes Tribunal,
The Ravi & Beas Waters Tribunal,
The Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal,
The Kaveri Water Disputes Tribunal.
Eg. Yamuna River water dispute among
Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh

8. Approaches of Resolution
Sub-basin Division Approach Principle of “Equitable apportionment
The whole river basin is divided into The proportionate share of states
Sub-basins and thereafter the are decided on the basis of their
concerned parties are allocated with respective property rights, area of
the command of Sub-basin lying drainage, investments, uses and
within their area. total volume of water in the river.
Eg. Indus Water Treaty, 1960 between Eg. The award of Kaveri Water
India and Pakistan. India has rights Tribunal :-
over three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas State Allotted water (TMC ft)
& Satluj) and Pakistan over Western Tamil Nadu 419
rivers (Chenab, Jhelum and Indus) Karnataka 270
Kerala 30
Similar, approach was taken in Puducherri 7
Godavari river dispute among Reserved 10
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Sea discharge 4
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa) Total 740

9. Loopholes and Solutions
PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS
Declaration of water as a
Property Rights Issues
national property
State government allowed to
Plethora of actors
be the only party
Setting up of time frame
Delays
through laws
Commissioning of an
Enforcement
enforcement body
Experts & judges be member
Political Interferences
rather than politicians

10. Some Other Solutions
Creation of a quasi-independent heirarchy of institutions
National Water
Dispute Tribunal
Enforcement
Dispute Perceptive Information
and
Resolution planning gathering
maintenance
Drainage basin oriented planning like Damodar Valley Project or
Murray Water Commission (Australia) Navigation and
others
Industrial use
Ecology conservation
Defining priorities of water allocation Hydropower
Irrigation
Drinking
Water