Parliament Question: Inter-State River Water Disputes

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2200 ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026 INTER-STATE RIVER WATER DISPUTES 2200. SHRI TANGELLA UDAY SRINIVAS: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) the number of inter-State river water disputes presently pending, river and State-wise; (b) the details of institutional mechanisms in place for resolution of such disputes including river boards, tribunals, inter-State negotiations and other statutory arrangements and the outcomes achieved during the last ten years; (c) whether the Government has undertaken any assessment of economic, agricultural and developmental losses suffered by States due to prolonged pendency of inter-State river water disputes; (d) if so, the details of such assessments including estimated economic costs, State-wise; (e) the current status of inter-State river water disputes involving Andhra Pradesh including those relating to the Krishna river basin; (f) whether the Government proposes to expedite resolution of pending inter-State river water disputes including the Krishna river dispute through legislative, administrative or consensual mechanisms and if so, the details thereof; and (g) the timelines fixed, concrete measures proposed and the steps taken to ensure equitable water sharing and protection of public interest? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY) (a) & (b) For adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-state rivers and river valley thereof, the Parliament has enacted the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (hereinafter referred to as the Act). When any request under the Act is received from any State Government in respect of any water dispute on 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 the adjudication of the water dispute. Currently, four Water Disputes Tribunals are active, details of which are given at Annexure. (c) & (d) No such assessment of economic, agricultural and developmental losses suffered by States due to prolonged pendency of inter-State River water disputes has been conducted. 1(e) The State of Andhra Pradesh is involved in the ongoing Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT- II). The KWDT-II has given its report and decision under Section 5(3) of the Act on 29.11.2013 recommending allocating of water amongst the States of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. However, on account of stay by Supreme Court vide its order dated 16.09.2011, the award could not be published in the Official Gazette in terms of Section 6(1) of the Act, and the matter is still sub-judice before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Subsequently, in view of the fact that the adjudication by KWDT-II on the terms of reference specified in section 89 of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, was still going on, the tenure of the Tribunal had been extended, year by year. Meanwhile, the Central Government has also referred the further Terms of References to the existing KWDT-II for adjudication the Krishna waters dispute between the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana only vide notification dated 06.10.2023. Presently, the term of the Tribunal has been extended for a further period of one year from 01.08.2025 i.e. till 31.07.2026 vide Gazette Notification dated 10.07.2025. (f) & (g) Presently, the Inter-State River Water Dispute Act, 1956 as amended from time to time, is the legal mechanism available for resolution of inter-State River water disputes. The procedure and timeline for adjudication/resolution of water disputes is already laid down in the said Act. The Act stipulates establishment of Tribunal for adjudication of river disputes, and accordingly, in Krishna River water dispute, KWDT-II has been constituted. *** 2ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2200 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 12.02.2026 REGARDING “INTER-STATE RIVER WATER DISPUTES”. List of ongoing Water Disputes Tribunals Sl. Tribunal Date of Name of Present Status No. formation River Party States 1 Ravi Beas 02.04.1986 Ravi & Punjab, Report and decision under section 5(2) of Waters Beas Haryana & ISRWD Act was submitted to Central Tribunal Rajasthan Government. Matters u/s 5(3) of the Act (RBWT) are sub-judice in Tribunal. The Tenure of Tribunal has been extended till 05.08.2026. 2 Krishna Water 02.04.2004 Krishna Maharashtra, Further report under section 5(3) given Disputes Karnataka & by the Tribunal on 29.11.2013. However, Tribunal-II Present Andhra as per Supreme Court Order dated (KWDT-II) Pradesh, 16.9.2011, till further order, Telangana report/decision of the Tribunal shall not be published in the official Gazette. The Tribunal is currently hearing matters as per section 89 of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. Tenure of Tribunal extended till 31.07.2026. 3 Mahadayi 16.11.2010 Mahadayi Goa, Karnataka The Tribunal submitted its report and Water (effective & Maharashtra decision under Section 5(2) of the Disputes date ISRWD Act, 1956 to Central Tribunal 21.08.2013) Government on 14.8.2018. (MWDT) Pursuant to Hon’ble Supreme Court Order dated 20.02.2020, the Central Government has published MWDT Award dated 14.08.2018 u/s 5(2) vide Notification No. S.O. 888(E) dated 27.02.2020. 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. Tenure of Tribunal extended for further one year till 15.08.2026. 4 Mahanadi 12.03.2018 Mahanadi Odisha & Matter u/s 5(2) of the Act under is sub- Tribunal Chhattisgarh judice in Tribunal. Tenure of Tribunal extended till 13.04.2026. ***** 3