The Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (IRWD Act) is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted under Article 262 of Constitution of India on the eve of reorganization of states on linguistic basis to resolve the water disputes that would arise in the use, control and distribution of an interstate river[1] or river valley.[2] Article 262 of the Indian Constitution provides a role for the union government in adjudicating conflicts surrounding interstate rivers that arise among the state/regional governments.[3] This Act further has undergone amendments subsequently and its most recent amendment took place in the year 2002.
River waters use / harnessing is included in states jurisdiction (entry 17 of state list, Schedule 7 of Indian Constitution). However, the union government with parliament approval can make laws on regulation and development of interstate rivers and river valleys to the extent such water resources are directly under its control when expedient in the public interest (entry 56 of union list, Schedule 7 of Indian Constitution). Damodar Valley Corporation, NHPC, River Boards Act 1956, etc under the control of the union government, are referable to Entry 56 of the union list.[4] When union government wants to take over an interstate river project under its control by law (as provided in the constitution) from states per entry 56 of the union list, it has to take the approval of the riparian states' legislature assemblies before passing such bill in the Parliament per Article 252 of the constitution. When public interest is served, President may also establish an interstate council as per Article 263 to inquire and recommend the dispute that has arisen between the states of India.
IRWD Act (section 2c2) validates the previous agreements (if any) among the basin states to harness the water of an interstate river/ river valley. This act is confined to states of India and not applicable to union territories. Only concerned state governments are entitled to participate in the tribunal adjudication and non-government entities are not permitted.
Any river water sharing treaty made with other countries, has to be ratified by the Parliament per Article 253 after deciding the share of the Indian riparian states per Article 262 to make the treaty constitutionally valid or enforceable by the judiciary as India follows dualist theory for the implementation of international treaties/laws. The Indian government has signed Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, Ganga water sharing treaty with Bangladesh, etc. without the ratification by the Parliament and the consent of the concerned riparian states per Article 252.
The Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956
Parliament of India
Long title
An Act to provide for the adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers and river valleys.
Citation
Act No. 33 of 1956
Enacted by
Parliament of India
Assented to
28 August 1956
Map of the major rivers in India
^"River basins of India". Retrieved 21 October 2012.
^"Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956 - As modified up to 6th August 2002" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
^"The Constitution of India". Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
^"Water and federalism: Working with states for water security" (PDF). Retrieved 3 January 2022.
and 30 Related for: Interstate River Water Disputes Act information
riverwater utilization disputes among the river basin states of Krishna and Godavari rivers under the provisions of InterstateRiverWaterDisputes Act...
available in the river. Mahadayi Water Tribunal under InterstateRiverWaterDisputesAct has been constituted to decide the sharing of the river waters by the...
riverwater utilization disputes about the river basin states of Godavari and Krishna rivers under the provisions of InterstateRiverWaterDisputes Act...
states, a dispute arose on the allocation of Ravi and Beas waters for which a tribunal was set up under the InterstateRiverWaterDisputesAct. As a counterclaim...
Indian Rivers Inter-link InterstateRiverWaterDisputesAct National Waterways of India Water scarcity in India Indian states ranking by drinking water Water...
InterstateRiverWaterDisputesAct Irrigation in India List of rivers by discharge List of dams and reservoirs in India National Water Policy Water scarcity...
use of water, especially ground waterInterstateRiverWaterDisputesAct Ground water in India Irrigation in India Water resources in India Water scarcity...
apportionment is governed by colonial time water sharing agreement in the year 1892 and the InterstateRiverWaterDisputesAct 1956. However the future development...
Water conflict typically refers to violence or disputes associated with access to, or control of, water resources, or the use of water or water systems...
Narmada WaterDisputes Tribunal (NWDT) under the InterstateRiverWaterDisputesAct of 1956 to adjudicate on the dispute relating to sharing of water of the...
water in India InterstateRiverWaterDisputesAct Irrigation in India National Water Policy Water resources in India Water scarcity in India Water supply...
Kalpasar Project List of rivers by dissolved load Ground water in India Indian Rivers Inter-link InterstateRiverWaterDisputesAct Irrigation in India List...
also one of the rivers mentioned in Schedule A annexed to the 1892 agreement which is in force as per InterstateRiverWaterDisputesAct 1956. As per a...
the issue by constituting Nagavali waterdispute tribunal under the InterstateRiverWaterDisputesAct as the dispute is not getting settled by negotiations...
Project Indian Rivers Inter-link InterstateRiverWaterDisputesAct Irrigation in India National Water Policy Water scarcity in India Water supply and sanitation...
the dispute. India portal Water portal Renewable energy portal Musunuri Nayaks Polavaram, Eluru district InterstateRiverWaterDisputesActWater security...
otherwise designated to the federal government. Most early interstate compacts resolved boundary disputes, but since the early 20th century, compacts have increasingly...
exceeded its limit by violating the constitution and the InterstateRiverWaterDisputesAct. However, the Supreme Court pulled out to establish the Cauvery...
Berlin Rules on Water Resources in 2004, which superseded this guideline. Water right Water law UN Rules InterstateRiverWaterDisputesAct, India Browne...
archived copy as title (link) "Andhra state act 1953". Retrieved 15 October 2013. THE FOOD CORPORATIONS ACT, 1964 Archived 9 April 2009 at the Wayback...
1986 National Water Policy Coastal Regulation Zone Godavari WaterDisputes Tribunal InterstateRiverWaterDisputesAct Krishna WaterDisputes Tribunal Indian...
only at daytime that too with proper warnings. Idukki Dam InterstateRiverWaterDisputesAct Tamil Nadu-Kerala dam row "Mullaperiyar Dam turns 125 | Kochi...
Global Information
