What article is for resolving inter-state water disputes?
Q. Which of the following sentences are true regarding Article 262?
1) It deals with inter-state water disputes.
2) One can approach the Supreme Court against the decision of the water dispute tribunal.- Published on 27 Feb 17a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: Only 1
- Article 262 of the Constitution provides for the adjudication of inter-state water disputes.
It makes two provisions -
1. Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution and control of waters of any inter-state river and river valley.
2. Parliament may also provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court is to exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint.
- Under this provision, the Parliament has enacted two laws (the River Boards Act (1956) and the Inter-State Water Disputes Act (1956)).
- The River Boards Act provides for the establishment of river boards for the regulation and development of inter-state river and river valleys.
- A river board is established by the Central government on the request of the state governments concerned to advise them.
- The Inter-State Water Disputes Act empowers the Central government to set up an ad hoc tribunal for the adjudication of a dispute between two or more states in relation to the waters of an inter-state river or river valley.
- The decision of the tribunal would be final and binding on the parties to the dispute.
- Neither the Supreme Court nor any other court is to have jurisdiction in respect of any water dispute which may be referred to such a tribunal under this Act.
So far (2013), the Central government has set up eight inter-state water dispute tribunals -
1. Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal - 1969 - involves Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
2. Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal - 1969 - involves Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.
3. Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal - 1969 - involves Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
4. Ravi and Beas Water Disputes Tribunal - 1986 - involves Punjab and Haryana.
5. Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal - 1990 - involves Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
6. Second Krishna Water DisputesTribunal - 2004 - involves Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
7. Vansadhara Water Disputes Tribunal - 2010 - involves Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
8. Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal - 2010 - involves Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
