- Article 262: Parliament may provide for the adjudication of inter-state river water disputes. Parliament may exclude the jurisdiction of Supreme Court and other courts
- Seventh Schedule
- Entry 17, State List: Water supply, irrigation, canals, drainage (subject to Entry 56)
- Entry 56, Union List: Regulation and development of inter-state rivers in public interest.
Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 – Key Features
- Enacted under Article 262
- Provides for setting up ad-hoc water dispute tribunals when negotiations fail.
- Tribunal award is final and binding on states and is outside original jurisdiction of Supreme Court.
Key Examples
- Cauvery River Dispute: Involves Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry, managed by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).
- Krishna River Dispute: Concerns Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, with disputes over project utilization.
- Mahanadi Dispute: Between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over dam operations.
- Ravi-Beas Dispute: Between Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, focused on the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal.
- Mahadayi/Mandovi Dispute: Involves Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra over water diversion.
Source: The Indian Express