Single Tribunal
- The Union Government has decided to set up a single permanent Tribunal to adjudicate all inter-State river water disputes.
- This single body will subsume all existing tribunals for resolving grievances of inter-State water disputes in a speedy manner.
- It will be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge.
- The Tribunal will also have more teeth as whenever it gives order, the verdict gets notified automatically.
- Until now, the Union Government was required to notify the awards, causing delay in its implementation.
Benches for adjudicating inter-State river water disputes
- Besides the tribunal, the Union Government has also proposed to float some Benches by amending the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 to look into disputes as and when required.
- Unlike the tribunal, these benches will cease to exist once the disputes are resolved.
- Earlier water tribunals took decades to deliver final awards into disputes, whereas the proposed Tribunal is expected to deliver its verdict during a span of three years.
Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC)
- Along with the tribunal, the amendment also has been proposed to set up Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC).
- The DRC will be comprising experts and policy-makers.
- It is proposed to handle disputes prior to the tribunal.
- The Union Government will set up a DRC whenever a state will request.
- Most of the disputes will be resolved at the DRC’s level itself. But if a State is not satisfied, it can approach the tribunal.