Inter-State river water disputes will be adjudicated by a Single Standing Tribunal with multiple benches if a new Bill introduced in Lok Sabha on Tuesday gets enacted into law.

This is against the current practice of establishing separate Tribunal for each inter-state river water dispute.

The new Bill—The Inter State River Water Disputes (amendment) Bill 2017—was introduced in the lower house by Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti today.

It has set the maximum time period for adjudication of water dispute at four-and-a-half years. Interestingly, in the current law there is no provision fixing any time limit for adjudication by a Tribunal.

Also, the new Bill provides that the decision of the Bench of the Single Tribunal would be final and binding on the States concerned, with no requirement of its publication in the official gazette.

The Bill also proposes to introduce a mechanism to resolve the water dispute amicably by negotiations through the Disputes Resolution Committee, to be established by the central government, before such dispute is referred to the Tribunal.

The proposed Single Standing Tribunal (with multiple benches) will consist of one Chairperson, one vice-chairperson and not more than six members.

While the term of office of the Chairperson is five years or till he attains the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier, the term of office of Vice Chairman and other members will be co-terminus with the adjudication of the water disputes.

On account of increase in demand for water by the States, the inter-State river water disputes are on the rise. Though the current Inter-State River Water Disputes Act 1956 provides for a legal framework to address such disputes, it suffers from many drawbacks.

Only three out of eight Tribunals have made awards which are accepted by the States.

Though the Cauvery and Ravi Beas Water Disputes Tribunal have been in existence for over 20 years and 30 years respectively, they have not been able to make any successful award till date, according to the Statement of Objects and Reasons for the Bill.

Meanwhile, indications are that the single standing Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal with multiple Benches would initially be constituted by merging of existing five Tribunals.

The new Bill also seeks to provide for transparent data collection system at national level for each river basin and for this purpose, an agency to maintain databank and information system would be appointed by the Central Government.

srivats.kr@thehindu.co.in