CENTRALUNI

VERSI
TYOFSOUTHBI
HAR

SCHOOLOFLAW &GOVERNANCE

CONSTI
TUTI
ONALLAW -2

PROJECTTOPI
C:-

I
NTHEMATTEROFCAUVERYRI
VERDI
SPUTE

SUBMI
TTEDTO:
-
MRS.POONAM KUMARI
ASSI
STANTPROFESSOR
SLG,
CUSB

SUBMI
TTEDBY:
-
PRI
YANSHUTRI
PATHY
Enr
oll
mentNo.-CUSB1813125071
3RDSEM ,
B.A.
LL.
B

1
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Ther
esear
chert
akest
hisoppor
tuni
tyt
oexpr
esshi
spr
ofoundgr
ati
tudeanddeep
r
egar
dst
oMRS.
POONAM KUMARIf
orhi
sexper
tgui
dance,
moni
tor
ingandconst
ant
encour
agementt
hroughoutt
hecour
seoft
hispr
oject
.Thebl
essi
ngs,
hel
psand
gui
dancegi
venbyhi
mti
met
oti
meshal
lcar
ryt
her
esear
cheral
ongwi
tht
hej
our
neyof
l
i
feonwhi
cht
her
esear
cheri
saboutt
oembar
k.Ther
esear
cheri
sobl
i
gedt
ost
aff
member
sofCENTRALUNI
VERSI
TYOFSOUTHBI
HARf
ort
hev
aluabl
einf
ormat
ion
pr
ovi
dedbyt
hem i
nthei
rrespect
ivef
iel
ds.Ther
esear
cheri
sgr
atef
ulf
ort
hei
rco-
oper
ati
ondur
ingt
heper
iodofhi
sassi
gnment
.

Last
ly,

Iowe t
he pr
esentaccompl
i
shmentofmypr
ojectt
o myf
ri
ends,who hel
ped me
i
mmensel
ywi
thmat
eri
alst
hroughoutt
hepr
ojectandwi
thoutwhom Icoul
dn’
thav
e
compl
etedi
tint
hepr
esentway
.Iwoul
dal
sol
i
ket
oext
endmysi
ncer
egr
ati
tudet
omy
par
ent
sandal
lthoseunseenhandst
hathel
pedmeatev
eryst
ageofmypr
oject
.

THANKI
NGYOU,

NAME:
PRI
YANSHU TRI
PATHY

COURSE:BA.LL.
B.(
Hons.
)

ENROLLMENTNO.–CUSB1813125071

SEMESTER-3rd

2
 CONTENTS

1. I
NTRODUCTI
ON
2. BACKGROUNDOFTHEDI
SPU
3. I
SSUESRELATEDTODI
SPUTE
4. LEGI
SLATI
VEPROVI
SIONS
5. JUDGEMENT
6. PERSONALOPI
NION
7. CONCLUSI
ON
8. BI
BLI
OGRAPHY

3
 1.I
NTRODUCTI
ON

EQUI
VALENT
CI
TATI
ONS;
AIR1992SC522,
JT1991(
4)SC361,
1992-
2–LW51,
1991(
2)SCALE1049,
1993Supp(
1)SCC96,
[1991]Supp2SCR497

I
NTHESUPREMECOURTOFI
NDI
A

SPECI
ALREFERENCENO.1OF1991

DECI
DEDON;
22.
11.
1991

APPELLANTS;
I
NTHEMATTEROF;
CAUVERYWATERDI
SPUTESTRI
BUNAL

HONOURABLEJUDGES/CORAM ;
RANGANATHMI
SRA,
C.J.
I.,
K.N.SI
NGH,
A.M.
AHMADI,
KULDIPSI
NGHANDP.B.SAWANT,JJ

4
COUNSELS;
FORI
NTERVENOR;
A.K.SEN,
VENKATARAMANANDC.
S.VAI
DYANATHAN,
ADVS

Ther
iverCauv
eryst
art
sfr
om Br
ahmagi
rranger
soft
heWest
ernGhat
sinCoor
gdi
str
ict
ofKar
nat
akaandt
rav
ersest
hroughKar
nat
aka,Ker
ala,Tami
lNaduandPondi
cher
ryt
o
j
oint
heBayofBengalatKav
eri
pat
tnam.I
tist
hel
i
fel
i
neofSout
hIndi
ajustl
i
keGanga
f
orNor
thI
ndi
a.I
tisoneoft
hesev
ensacr
edr
iver
sofI
ndi
aandi
sknownasDakshi
na
Ganga.Thet
otall
engt
hofCauv
eryi
sabout800Kmsoutofwhi
chi
tcov
ers380Kmsi
n
Kar
nat
aka bef
orer
eachi
ng t
he Kar
nat
aka -
Tami
lNadu bor
der
.The r
iverf
orms a
boundar
ybet
weent
hest
atesofKar
nat
akaandTami
lNaduupt
oadi
stanceof64Ki
m’s.
Theni
ttr
aver
sesal
engt
hofabout357Ki
m’si
nTami
lNadubef
orej
oini
ngt
heBayof
Bengal

The Cauv
ery basi
n ext
ends ov
erKar
nat
aka,Ker
ela,Tami
lNadu and Pondi
cher
ry
amount
ingt
oat
otal
of81,
155sq.
km i
nal
l
.Int
hey
ear1924anagr
eementwasar
ri
vedat
byBr
it
ishr
uledmadr
aspr
esi
dencyont
heonepar
tandMy
sor
est
ater
uledbymahar
aja
ofMy
sor
eont
heot
herf
ort
heut
il
izat
ionofwat
erofr
iverCauv
ery
.The1924agr
eement
wasf
oll
owedupt
other
eor
gani
zat
ionofst
atesonl
i
ngui
sti
cbasi
saf
terwhi
chMy
sor
e
st
atebecomeKar
nat
aka.Kar
nat
akaconsi
der
sthe1924agr
eementt
obeonesi
ded
i
mposedbyani
mper
ialgov
ernmentuponav
assalst
ate.Hencei
nthey
ear1974
Kar
nat
akaputf
orwar
dit
scl
aimt
hatt
he1924agr
eementhav
ingcompl
etedi
ts50y
ear
s
hadl
apsedandt
hatt
hest
atewasmor
eboundbyt
ermsandpr
ovi
sionst
her
eof
.

TheCauv
eryr
iveri
ssuei
sanageol
dpr
obl
em andst
il
lcont
inui
ngf
ormor
ethan120
y
ear
s.Ti
l
lnow,t
hel
egalpat
hoft
heCauv
erydi
sput
esi
snotasmoot
hsai
l
.Non
obser
vancewi
tht
heawar
dgi
venbyt
het
ri
bunal
(Cauv
eryRi
verWat
erDi
sput
esTr
ibunal
)
i
snot backedbyst
ri
ctsanct
ionsandbyr
ender
ingapol
ogyt
hepol
i
ticalof
fi
cial
shad
t
akent
heescapi
str
out
e.Ev
enaf
tert
hef
inalor
der
,thepet
it
ionsf
il
edbyt
her
ivalst
ates
ar
ependi
ngf
orhear
ingbef
oret
heSupr
emeCour
t.Thus,t
hei
ssuedemandsat
tract
ion
undeni
abl
yduet
oit
slegal
regul
ator
ygaps.I
nthi
srel
evance,
thepr
esentar
ti
clewi
l
ldeal
wi
tht
heext
entoff
utur
epr
omi
sehol
d byt
heor
deri
nencour
agi
ngpeacef
ulset
tl
ement
amongal
lthest
akehol
der
s.Thej
uri
spr
udenceonwat
err
ight
shasdev
elopedov
era

5
per
iodoft
imeandt
hroughv
ari
ouscasel
awsandschol
arl
yar
ti
cles.I
nterst
ater
iver
di
sput
eswhi
chr
evol
vear
oundt
heov
erar
chi
ngconceptof“
equal
i
tyi
nwat
err
ight
s”
cov
ercr
it
icalcomponent
sli
ke-pr
iorusagev
ersust
err
it
ori
alcommand,
benef
ici
alwat
er
al
l
ocat
ionf
ormeet
ingt
heneedsandev
ent
heext
entofhar
minf
li
cti
ont
oot
herco-
r
ipar
ianst
atesf
orwat
erdi
ver
sion

2. BACKGROUND

Ther
ewer
etwoagr
eement
sent
eredi
ntoi
nthey
ear
s1892and1924wi
thr
espectt
o
shar
ingoft
her
iverwat
erbet
weent
hest
atesofer
stwhi
l
eMadr
asPr
esi
dencyandt
he
Ki
ngdom ofMy
sor
e.aspert
hisagr
eementwat
ershar
ingi
sdet
ermi
nedwi
tht
hehel
pof
basi
nar
eai
neachst
atewhi
chi
s44,
000sq.Kmsi
nTami
lNaduand32000sq.Kmsi
n
Kar
nat
aka.

ButKar
nat
aka has now cl
aimed t
hatt
he agr
eement
s hav
e been unf
airt
owar
ds
Kar
nat
akaandt
hat‘equi
tabl
eshar
ingofwat
ers‘shoul
dbeensur
e.ButTami
lNadu
cl
aimst
hati
twoul
dnotbepossi
blet
oshar
eequalwat
erbecauset
hest
atehasal
ready
usedup12000sq.Kmsofl
andar
oundt
her
iverandeachheav
il
ydependentont
he
cur
rentusasgepat
ter
noft
her
iver.Achangecanaf
fectt
he l
i
vel
i
hoodofmi
l
li
onsof
f
armer
sofTami
lNadu.

2.
1 Mi
d1870s–1947(Pr
e-I
ndependenceEr
a)
TheBr
it
ishcont
rol
l
edbot
hMy
sor
eandMadr
asi
nthemi
d-ni
net
eent
hcent
ury
.Dur
ing
t
hei
rregi
me,numer
ouspl
answer
edr
awnupf
ort
heut
il
izat
ionoft
heKav
eriwat
ersby
bot
hst
ates.Howev
er,t
hedr
oughtandsubsequentf
ami
nei
nthemi
d-1870sputahol
d
ont
hei
mpl
ement
ati
onoft
hesepl
ans.Howev
er,whenMy
sor
esoughtt
orev
ivet
hose
pl
ans,
aconf
erencewashel
din1890wi
tht
heobj
ect
iveofagr
eei
ngont
hepr
inci
plesof
amodusv
ivendi
,whi
chwoul
dont
heonehandal
l
owt
oMy
sor
eindeal
i
ngwi
thi
rr
igat
ion
wor
ks,
andont
heot
her
,gi
vet
oMadr
aspr
act
icalsecur
it
yagai
nsti
njur
ytoi
nter
est
sand
ev
ent
ual
l
y,af
terheav
ydi
scussi
onsandnegot
iat
ionsf
ort
woy
ear
s,t
heagr
eementof
1892wassi
gned.

Howev
eri
n1910,bot
hMy
sor
eandMadr
aspl
annedt
oconst
ructdamsi
nKannambadi

6
andMet
turr
espect
ivel
y.TheBr
it
ishgov
ernmentt
hen,per
mit
tedMy
sor
etobui
l
dthe
dam f
orar
educedst
orage(
11TMCasopposedt
opl
anned41.
5TMC)
,butdur
ingt
he
const
ruct
ion,t
hef
oundat
ionwasl
aidt
osui
ttheear
li
erdesi
redf
ullst
orage,whi
ch
r
esul
tedi
nri
ftf
rom Madr
as.Asar
esul
t,t
heKav
eridi
sput
ewasputf
orar
bit
rat
ionf
or
t
hef
ir
stt
ime.

Pr
oceedi
ngsst
art
edon16Jul
y1913andt
heawar
dwasgi
venon12May1914.St
il
l,
Madr
asappeal
edagai
nstt
heawar
dandnegot
iat
ionscont
inuedf
oranot
her10y
ear
s.
Ev
ent
ual
l
yanagr
eementwasar
ri
vedati
n1924,
whi
chwassett
olapseaf
terar
unof50
y
ear
s.

2.
2 1947–1980s–Post
-i
ndependencedev
elopment
s
I
ndependenceandt
her
eor
gani
zat
ionofst
atesi
nIndi
aresul
tedi
nnewdev
elopment
sin
t
hisi
ssue.I
n1956,st
ateboundar
ieswer
eredr
awnbasedonl
i
ngui
sti
cdemogr
aphi
cs.
Byt
hel
ate1960s,
thegov
ernmentr
eal
i
zedt
hegr
avi
tyoft
hesi
tuat
ionast
he50y
earr
un
oft
he1924agr
eementwassooncomi
ngt
oanend.A‘
Cauv
eryFactFi
ndi
ngCommi
tt
ee
(
CFCC)
’wasconst
it
utedandi
tpr
esent
edi
tsf
inaldr
aftagr
eementi
n1974whi
chwas
notr
ati
fi
ed.Agai
nin1976,l
edbyt
heni
rr
igat
ionmi
nist
er,Jagj
eev
anRam pr
epar
eda
f
inaldr
aftont
hef
indi
ngsoft
heCFFC.Tami
lNaduwentt
ocour
tdemandi
ngt
he
const
it
uti
onofaTr
ibunalundert
heI
nter
stat
eRi
verWat
erDi
sput
esAct(
ISWD)of1956.
Lat
erTami
lNaduwi
thdr
ew i
tscasedemandi
ngt
heconst
it
uti
onofat
ri
bunalandt
he
t
wost
atesst
art
ednegot
iat
ingagai
n.Sev
eralr
oundsofdi
scussi
onswer
ehel
dint
he
1980s.

2.
3 AFTER1980TI
LL2010
Theni
n1990,
TheSupr
emeCour
tthendi
rect
edt
hegov
ernmentt
oconst
it
uteat
ri
bunal
andr
eferal
ldi
sput
est
oit
.Tami
lNadudemandedamandat
oryi
njunct
iononKar
nat
aka
f
ort
hei
mmedi
ater
eleaseofwat
erandot
herr
eli
efs.Al
thoughi
nit
ial
l
ydi
smi
ssedbyt
he
t
ri
bunal
,ont
hedi
rect
ionofSupr
emeCour
t,i
tconsi
der
edTN’
spl
eaandr
eleasedt
he

7
i
nter
im awar
don25June1991.Theydi
ditbycal
cul
ati
ngt
heav
eragei
nfl
owsov
era
per
iodof10y
ear
s(i
gnor
ingt
heout
li
ers)
,andi
tcameataf
igur
eof205bi
l
li
onf
t³whi
ch
Kar
nat
akahast
oensur
ereachedTNi
nawat
ery
ear
,tobedi
sper
sedonamont
hlybasi
s.
Kar
nat
aka,agai
nnotsat
isf
iedwi
tht
heor
der
,issuedanor
dinanceseeki
ngt
oannult
he
awar
d.TheGov
ernmentt
henmadesev
eralmodi
fi
cat
ionst
othepower
soft
heAut
hor
it
y
andcameupwi
thanew pr
oposal
.Thenew pr
oposalgr
eat
lyr
educedt
heexecut
ive
power
soft
heAut
hor
it
y.Thepowert
otakeov
ercont
rolofdamswasal
sodoneaway
wi
th.Undert
hisnew pr
oposal
,theGov
ernmentsetupt
wonew bodi
es,v
iz.
,Cauv
ery
Ri
verAut
hor
it
yandCauv
eryMoni
tor
ingCommi
tt
ee.TheCauv
eryRi
verAut
hor
it
ywoul
d
consi
stoft
hePr
imeMi
nist
erandt
heChi
efMi
nist
ersofal
lfourst
ates(
Kar
nat
aka,
Tami
l
Nadu,Puducher
ryand Ker
ala)and washeadquar
ter
ed i
n New Del
hi.TheCauv
ery
Moni
tor
ingCommi
tt
eeont
heot
herhand,wasanexper
tbodywhi
chconsi
stedof
engi
neer
s,t
echnocr
atsandot
herof
fi
cer
swhowoul
dtakest
ockoft
he‘
groundr
eal
i
ties’
andr
epor
ttot
hegov
ernment.

Now i
n2010,
Kar
nat
akaagai
ndef
iedt
ri
bunalf
inalawar
dandt
hatmadeJay
alal
i
thaa
seeki
mmedi
ateCauv
eryRi
verAut
hor
it
ymeeti
nMay2012.On19Sept
ember2012,
Pr
imeMi
nist
erManmohan Si
ngh,who i
sal
so t
heChai
rman oft
heCauv
eryRi
ver
Aut
hor
it
y,di
rect
edKar
nat
akat
orel
ease9,
000cusecsofKav
eriwat
ert
oTami
lNaduat
Bi
l
igundl
u(t
hebor
der
)dai
l
y.ButKar
nat
akaf
eltt
hatt
hiswasi
mpr
act
icalduet
othe
dr
oughtcondi
ti
onspr
evai
l
ingbecauseoft
hef
ail
edmonsoon.Thedr
amacont
inuedi
n
Oct
ober
,wher
esev
eralKannadaOr
gani
sat
ions,
undert
hebannerof“
KannadaOkkoot
a”,
cal
l
edaKar
nat
akabandh(
closedown)on6Oct
oberi
npr
otestagai
nstt
heKav
eriwat
er
r
elease.Fi
nal
l
yon6December
,thesupr
emecour
tdi
rect
edKar
nat
akat
orel
ease10,
000
cusecsofwat
ert
oTami
lNadu.Thecour
taskedt
heuni
ongov
ernmentt
oindi
cat
ethe
t
imef
ramewi
thi
nwhi
cht
hef
inaldeci
sionoft
heCauv
eryWat
erDi
sput
eTr
ibunal
,whi
ch
wasgi
veni
nFebr
uar
y2007,wast
obenot
if
ied.Thi
sdeci
sionwasgi
veni
nthev
iewof
sav
ingt
hest
andi
ngcr
opsofbot
hthest
ates.

3. I
SSUESRELATEDTOCASE
8
Amaj
ori
ssuewhi
chKar
nat
akasi
ght
edhasbeent
heunav
ail
abi
l
ityofadequat
eri
ver
wat
er.def
ici
tmonsoon.Thi
sispr
imar
il
yduet
oov
eral
ldecr
easei
nnat
ural
flowofwat
er.
Themai
nreasonsf
ordecr
easei
nnat
uralf
low ofwat
eri
sreduct
ioni
nfor
estcov
er,
unsust
ainabl
e.

Secondi
mpor
tanti
ssuer
elat
edt
othatdi
sput
eispr
otest
.AndKar
nat
akagov
ernment
f
il
edapl
eat
omodi
fyaSupr
emeCour
tor
der
.Itar
guedt
hati
twasunf
airt
orequi
ret
he
st
atet
orel
easeaf
ixedamountofwat
eri
rr
espect
iveoft
heav
ail
abi
l
ityofwat
er.

The I
ssue wi
th Cauv
eryWat
erManagementAut
hor
it
y:CWMA has notbeen f
ull
y
const
it
utedasi
tdoesnothav
ethr
eef
ullt
imemember
s.Thi
sisbecauseKer
alaand
Kar
nat
akahav
enotf
il
edt
hei
rnomi
nat
ions.Kar
nat
akaappr
ehendst
hatt
heCWMAwi
l
l
goagai
nsti
tsi
nter
estanddi
str
ibut
emor
ewat
ert
oTami
lNaduDur
ingt
hedef
ici
tyear
CWMAi
sempower
edt
ofi
ndaf
ormul
aforwat
erdi
str
ibut
ion.Thi
sisl
edt
ospecul
ati
on
andt
rustdef
ici
t.Kar
nat
akaappr
ehendt
hatt
heymayl
oset
hei
rcont
rolov
erst
ate
r
eser
voi
rordam duet
oCWMA.

4.CONSTI
TUTI
ONALPROVI
SIONSRELATEDTOTHEDI
SPUTE

1.TheConst
it
uti
onal
Prov
isi
onf
orI
nter
stat
ewat
erdi
sput
ehasbeenl
aiddowni
n
Ar
ti
cle262.
TheAr
ti
cl
e262pr
ovi
desf
oraspeci
fi
clawenact
edbyPar
li
amentt
o
adj
udi
cat
ewat
erdi
sput
es.I
tal
sobar
sjur
isdi
cti
onofal
lcour
ts,
incl
udi
ngt
heSupr
eme
Cour
t,ont
hesame.I
tisi
mpor
tantt
onot
ethatt
heext
ra-
const
it
uti
onal
arr
angement
s
onl
yrel
atet
odi
sput
esr
egar
dingt
heuse,
dist
ri
but
ionorcont
rol
oft
hewat
ersofany
i
nter
-st
ater
iverorr
iverv
all
ey.Ther
efor
e,di
sput
esout
sidet
hisambi
tar
enotsubj
ectt
o
Cl
ause(
1)ofAr
ti
cle262.Hence,
theSCcannotbesubj
ectt
othel
i
mit
ati
onpr
ovi
ded
underCl
ause(
2).

Rat
ional
ebehi
ndAr
ti
cle262-Const
it
uti
onAssembl
yDebat
e

Ri
verwat
eri
saf
ugi
ti
ver
esour
ce;
itdoesnotbel
ongt
oanyonest
ate.Ther
efor
e,
ef
fect
iveadj
udi
cat
ionondef
ini
tepr
oper
tyr
ight
sisnotpossi
ble.Si
ncewat
erdi
sput
es

9
concer
nsar
enotonl
yrel
atedt
opr
ivat
epar
ti
esbutt
hebenef
itofent
ir
eSt
ate,
legal
act
ioni
snotf
easi
ble.

2.I
nterSt
ateWat
erDi
sput
esAct
,1956:
 
Inaccor
dancet
otheAr
ti
cle262,

t
hePar
li
amentenact
edt
heI
nterSt
ateWat
erDi
sput
esActi
n1956.
 

1.Anyoft
hedi
sput
edpar
ti
es(
i.
e.t
heSt
ates)mayr
equestt
heCent
ral
Gov
ernment
t
oref
ert
hedi
sput
etoat
ri
bunal
foradj
udi
cat
ion.
2.TheCent
ral
Gov
ernment
,ifi
tisofopi
niont
hatt
hedi
sput
ecannotbeset
tl
edby
negot
iat
ion,
shal
lref
ert
hedi
sput
etoaTr
ibunal
.
3.Jur
isdi
cti
onoft
heSupr
emeCour
tandot
hercour
tsi
nrespectoft
hedi
sput
e
r
efer
redt
otheTr
ibunal
isbar
red.(
Sect
ion11)
4.TheCent
ral
Gov
ernmentmayf
rameascheme,
togi
veef
fectt
othedeci
sionoft
he
Tr
ibunal
.Theschememaypr
ovi
def
orest
abl
i
shi
nganaut
hor
it
yfori
mpl
ement
ing
(
Sect
ion6A)
.

5. JUDGEMENT

Theapexcour
trecent
lygav
eit
sfi
nal
ver
dict
,set
tl
ingt
hedi
sput
eonceandf
oral
l
.
Someoft
hei
mpor
tantpoi
ntsar
easf
oll
ows:

I
twasobser
vedt
hatt
heov
eral
lpopul
ati
onofar
iverbasi
nmustbegi
venpr
ime
consi
der
ati
on f
ordet
ermi
ning equi
tabl
e shar
e ofwat
er.So,on t
hatbasi
s
Bangal
orewi
thi
nhabi
tant
sdeser
vest
ohav
emor
eshar
eofwat
eroft
hanwas
awar
ded.Addi
ti
onal4.
75t
mcf
twat
erhasbeenal
l
ocat
edf
ort
hepur
poseof
i
mpl
ement
ati
onofwat
ersuppl
yschemesofKar
nat
akaandanot
her10t
mcf
tfor
agr
icul
tur
eact
ivi
ti
es.

Ar
ound10t
mcf
tgr
oundwat
erf
rom t
heCauv
erydel
tai
stobepr
eser
vedf
orsaf
e

10
 usebyTami
lNadu.

Ther
efor
e,whi
l
eincr
easi
ngt
heshar
eofKar
nat
aka,
itdi
dnoti
gnor
etheneedsof
Tami
lNaduaswel
l
.TheCour
twasf
airt
obot
hthest
ateswhi
l
egi
vi
ngi
tsv
erdi
ct.
Howev
er,
thecour
thasnotl
ookeddeepi
ntot
hei
ssuel
i
kedeci
dingonadef
ici
t
f
ormul
aforshar
ingofwat
er,
issuewi
thr
espectt
oconst
ruct
ionofahy
del
power
pr
ojecti
nthecommonboundar
iesoft
her
iverbyKar
nat
aka(
Mekedat
uhy
del
pr
oject
),al
l
ocat
ionofsur
pluswat
erandpr
obl
emsofcl
i
mat
echange.Mor
eov
er,
a
maj
ordr
awbackoft
hej
udgementi
sthatunl
i
kei
ncasesoft
hecoal
minescam
ort
hei
ronor
emi
ningcase,
theCour
tdi
dnotseekt
heassi
stanceofat
leastt
wo
t
echni
cal
exper
tsasr
equi
redundert
heI
nter
-St
ateWat
erDi
sput
esAct
,1956.
Thi
scancauseser
iouspr
act
ical
chal
l
engesi
nthef
utur
ewat
ershar
ingand
di
sput
esmayst
il
lar
isebef
orei
t.

SUPREMECOURTONTHI
SDI
SPUTE
TheSupr
emeCour
thasr
eser
vedor
deronmai
ntai
nabi
l
ityonappealofTami
lNadu,
Kar
nat
akaandKer
alaagai
nstTr
ibunal
'
sor
derof2007.Meanwhi
l
e,2000cusecs/
perday
wat
erwi
l
lbepr
ovi
dedt
oTami
lNadu.TheSupr
emeCour
tonTuesday
,Oct
ober18,had
di
rect
edt
heKar
nat
akagov
ernmentt
okeepr
eleasi
ng2,
000cusecsofwat
erperdayt
o
Tami
lNadut
il
lfur
theror
der
s.

Meanwhi
l
e,SC asksKar
nat
akat
ocont
inuer
eleasi
ng2000cusecswat
erperdayt
o
Tami
lNadu. 
SCr
eser
vesor
deronmai
ntai
nabi
l
ityonappealofTami
lNadu,Kar
nat
aka
andKer
alaagai
nstTr
ibunal
'
sor
derof2007,r
epor
tsANI
.Kar
nat
akaandTami
lNadu
admi
nist
rat
ionsmustensur
epeaceandhar
monyi
nbot
hthest
ates

Wi
thwat
erbodi
esgone,60%ofbengal
urueansdependonCauv
ery
.Rai
lrokopr
otest
s

11
wer
eal
sohel
d,whi
chwer
esuccessf
ul,mor
ethan600wer
eheal
d.ThePuducher
yand
Tami
lNadugov
t.Makepactonwat
er.Opposi
ti
on,
far
mer
spr
otest
,thr
owl
i
feoutofgear
acr
ossTami
lNadu1.

I
n2018t
hesupr
emecour
tofI
ndi
ahasgi
vent
hesest
atement
; Tot
alav
ail
abl
ewat
ert
o
beal
l
ocat
ednotchangedAl
l
ocat
iont
oKer
alaandPuducher
rynotchanged.
Reduced
Tami
lNadu’
sshar
eby14.
75t
mcf
tandaddedt
hatt
oKar
nat
aka’
sshar
e-Reduced
Kar
nat
aka’
sobl
i
gat
ionst
orel
easewat
er,
from 192t
mcf
tto177.
25t
mcf
t,t
oTami
lNadu
I
ncr
easedKar
nat
aka’
sshar
etomeetBengal
uru’
sdr
inki
ngwat
err
equi
rement
s.Asser
ted
t
hati
nter
-st
ater
iverwat
ersar
enat
ionalasset
s.Gav
etheCent
re6weekst
ofr
amea
schemet
omakesur
ethef
inaldeci
sionsar
eimpl
ement
ed.
Dir
ect
edt
hef
ormat
ionof
t
he 
Cauv
eryManagementBoar
d(CMB)

6.CRI
TICALANALYSI
S/ MYOPI
NION
Al
essonf
rom t
heev
ent
sov
ert
hel
astf
ewmont
hsov
ershar
ingofCauv
erywat
ersshow
t
hatonet
ime,pr
escr
ipt
ive,t
op-
downsol
uti
onsei
therbyt
het
ri
bunalort
heSupr
eme
Cour
tmaynotr
esol
vet
heconf
li
ct.Forasoci
all
yandenv
ironment
all
yjustsol
uti
on,we
needt
omov
etoanadapt
ivemanagementappr
oachandanal
ter
nat
ivesetofpr
inci
ples
ofshar
ing,
soundsci
enceandapar
ti
cipat
orypr
ocesseswi
thnon-
stat
eact
ors.Thi
swas
t
heov
erwhel
mingf
eel
i
ngofacademi
csandci
vi
lsoci
etyact
ivi
stsf
rom ofKar
nat
aka,
Ker
ala,Tami
lNaduandPondi
cher
ry,whometr
ecent
lyi
nBengal
urut
odi
scusst
he
i
ssue.
TheCauv
eryt
ri
bunalawar
drest
ri
ctsi
tsel
ftoshar
ingonl
yst
ream (
sur
face)f
lows.
Accor
dingt
ogeo-
hydr
ologi
stSekharMudduofI
ndi
anI
nst
it
uteofSci
ence,st
ream f
low

1
“
Cauv
erywat
erdi
sput
ecase”
,19thOct
ober2016,
TheTi
mesOfI
ndi
a

12
cannotbet
hei
ndi
cat
oroft
otalav
ail
abl
ewat
er.Onl
yaf
ract
ionofr
ainf
all
,ar
ound10t
o
20percent
,endsupasst
ream f
lows.Near
ly60t
o70percentoft
her
ainf
alli
stakenup
byv
eget
ati
onf
rom soi
landev
apot
ranspi
redt
otheat
mospher
e.
Thusi
tisi
mpor
tantt
hatal
lav
ail
abl
ewat
eri
nsi
tuwat
er,gr
oundwat
er,st
ream f
lowsbe
t
akeni
ntoaccountf
orwat
eral
l
ocat
ion.
Cauv
erybasi
nget
sbot
hthesout
hwest(
SW)andt
henor
theast(
NE)monsoons.The
Kar
nat
akapar
toft
hebasi
nisdomi
nat
edbyt
heSW monsoonwhi
l
ethedel
tar
egi
oni
n
Tami
lNadui
sdomi
nat
edbyt
heNEmonsoon.Thi
shasdi
recti
mpl
i
cat
ionsf
ort
he
t
ri
bunalawar
d,especi
all
yit
sst
ipul
ati
ont
oshar
eshor
tagesonapr
orat
abasi
s.The
cr
it
icali
ssuei
swhenandhow weest
imat
etheshor
tageandwor
koutaschedul
eof
r
eleasef
rom upst
ream st
orages.I
tmeansshor
tagesar
enotuni
for
m acr
osst
imeand
spaceandweneedamor
enuancedunder
standi
ngofhow t
odealwi
thshor
tagesas
wel
lasani
nst
it
uti
onal
mechani
sm t
odeal
wit
hiti
naf
lexi
blemanner
.
I
n 2013,t
he mi
nist
ryofwat
err
esour
ces came outwi
th a Dr
aftNat
ionalPol
i
cy
Gui
del
i
nesf
orWat
erShar
ing/
Dist
ri
but
ionAmongstSt
ates.I
tadv
ocat
esf
or“
equi
tabl
e
appor
ti
onment
”ofav
ail
abl
ewat
erandt
hef
act
orst
obeconsi
der
edi
ncl
udecont
ri
but
ion
ofeachoft
heco-
basi
nst
atest
othewat
ersoft
hebasi
n,r
equi
rementofwat
eri
neach
oft
heco-
basi
nst
ates,
pract
icabi
l
ityofut
il
isat
ionofwat
erdemandedand,
avai
l
abi
l
ityof
al
ter
nat
eorsuppl
ement
arysour
ces.I
tst
atesset
ti
ngpr
ior
it
iesf
ort
heal
l
ocat
edwat
er
wi
thi
ntheco-
basi
nst
atesi
snotpar
tofi
nter
-st
atewat
ershar
ing,t
hought
hesepr
ior
it
y
usesandneedsmaybeconsi
der
ed.Thi
sishi
ghl
ypr
obl
emat
icbecausei
tcango
agai
nstt
hegr
ainofasoci
all
yandecol
ogi
cal
l
yjustshar
ingar
rangement
.Taket
hecase
oft
heNar
madaWat
erDi
sput
esTr
ibunalawar
d.Thet
ri
bunalawar
dedni
neMAF(
mil
l
ion
acr
efeet
)wat
ert
o Guj
arat
,muchhi
ghert
hani
tsr
ipar
iancont
ri
but
iont
othef
low
becauseoft
heext
ensi
vedr
ought
-pr
onear
easi
nGuj
arat
.Howev
er,i
nthedesi
gnoft
he
Sar
darSar
ovarPr
oject
,al
argershar
e—59percentoft
hewat
er—wasal
l
ocat
edt
othe
hi
ghl
ydev
elopedcent
ralGuj
aratl
eav
ingv
eryl
esst
othedr
oughtpr
oner
egi
onsofKut
ch,
Saur
asht
raandnor
thGuj
arat
.Al
so,t
hegui
del
i
nesst
ipul
atet
opr
otectt
heexi
sti
nguses
whi
l
edeci
dingont
her
elat
iveshar
eoft
heco-
basi
nst
ates.Thi
stooi
spr
obl
emat
ic
becausedev
elopmentofwat
err
esour
cesamongt
heco-
basi
nst
atesi
snotuni
for
m.I
t
canpr
ivi
l
eget
hest
atest
hatar
ehi
stor
ical
l
yadv
ancedi
nwat
err
esour
cesdev
elopment
.

13
I
tcoul
dfor
ecl
osef
utur
eopt
ionsf
ormor
esust
ainabl
eandequi
tabl
eshar
ing.
Thej
ointst
atementt
hatgr
ewoutoft
heBengal
urumeet
ingt
alksofanal
ter
nat
ivesetof
pr
inci
plesandpr
ocessesf
ori
nter
-st
atewat
ershar
ing.I
tar
guesf
orani
ntegr
atedwat
er
managementi
nther
iverbasi
nthatshoul
dbegui
dedbyt
henor
mat
iveconcer
nsof
equi
tabl
e,sust
ainabl
e,andef
fi
cientuseandal
sodemocr
ati
cgov
ernance.Theseneeda
r
igor
ousandnuancedunder
standi
ngoft
heecol
ogi
calandsoci
o-economi
csi
tuat
ioni
n
t
hebasi
n.
Thest
atementpr
ovi
desf
ourpr
inci
plesi
nasequent
ialmanner
:Fi
rst
,wat
erf
orl
i
fet
o
pr
ovi
deadequat
ewat
erofaccept
abl
equal
i
tyf
ormeet
ingt
hedr
inki
ng,cooki
ngand
sani
tat
ionneedsofal
lthepeopl
eandani
mal
sint
hebasi
n;second,wat
erf
ort
he
ecosy
stem t
oensur
ewat
erf
lowsi
nther
iversy
stem f
oraquat
icl
i
feandot
herecol
ogi
cal
f
unct
ions;t
hir
d,wat
erf
orsust
aini
ngl
i
vel
i
hoodst
oenabl
epr
oduct
iveact
ivi
ti
eswhi
l
e
ensur
ingequi
tabl
euseandpubl
i
cheal
th;andf
our
th,wat
erf
oradapt
ati
ont
ochanget
o
keepr
eser
vesandmar
ginsf
ordemogr
aphi
c,economi
candl
and-
usechangesand
cl
i
mat
echange.Thest
atementcal
l
sforapar
ti
cipat
oryandt
ranspar
entpr
ocessf
or
deci
dingwat
ershar
ing.
Shar
ingoft
heCauv
erywat
erscannotbel
eftt
oacent
ral
i
sedpol
i
tical
,bur
eaucr
ati
cor
j
udi
cial
process.Wat
ergov
ernancemustbedemocr
ati
c,decent
ral
i
sedandpar
ti
cipat
ory
.
Ther
eis al
so a need t
o setup col
l
abor
ati
ve net
wor
ks ofci
ti
zens,ci
vi
lsoci
ety
or
gani
sat
ions, academi
cs and st
ate agenci
es dedi
cat
ed t
o anal
ysi
ng and
communi
cat
ingt
hisi
nfor
mat
ionf
orusebydeci
sion-
maker
s.Al
linf
ormat
ionanddat
a
mustbepubl
i
clyav
ail
abl
e.Ani
nfor
medpubl
i
cdi
scour
seal
onecant
ransf
orm conf
li
ct
i
ntocooper
ati
on.

7.CONCLUSI
ON
Tami
lNadupoi
ntsout
 t
hati
tget
sonl
yal
i
ttl
emor
efr
om Kar
nat
aka(
217-
7=210TMC)
t
hanwhati
twasawar
dedbyt
hei
nter
im or
deri
n1991(
205TMC)butt
hegov
ernment
andt
hepeopl
eoft
hest
atehav
elar
gel
yhai
l
edt
heFebr
uar
y5f
inalor
deroft
heTr
ibunal
,

14
cal
l
ingi
tfai
randequi
tabl
e(t
houghJay
alal
i
thahast
ri
edpunct
uri
ngCM Kar
unani
dhi
'
s
bal
l
oonbysomeni
tpi
cki
ng)
.Pondi
cher
ryhasal
sowel
comedt
heTr
ibunal
'
sfi
nalawar
d
andt
heuni
onmi
nist
erf
orwat
err
esour
cesSai
fuddi
nSozhasal
somai
ntai
nedt
hatal
l
t
hest
ateswi
l
lhav
etoagr
eet
othev
erdi
ctoft
heTr
ibunal
.

Kar
nat
aka,ont
heot
herhand,f
eel
sshor
t-
changedasi
tfeel
sthati
thasemer
gedev
en
wor
se-
offt
hanwhatt
hei
nter
im or
derawar
dedi
t,whi
chhadl
edt
omassi
vepr
otest
sin
t
hest
ate.Andsi
ncet
hewat
erneedsoft
hest
atehav
egr
ownov
ert
hey
ear
s,t
her
eisan
economi
candt
her
efor
eapol
i
ticalcostoft
heawar
d,andexpect
edl
ytheKar
nat
aka
gov
ernmenthassai
ditwi
l
lfi
l
ear
evi
sionpet
it
ionwi
thi
nthest
ipul
ated90day
sbef
ore
t
het
ri
bunalseeki
ngar
evi
ewoft
heor
der
,ter
mingi
tas"
shocki
ng"and"
unaccept
abl
e".
Ther
ehav
ebeenspor
adi
cpr
otest
sagai
nstt
heawar
daswel
l
.Thi
scasest
udyi
sa
cl
assi
cexampl
eofi
nst
it
uti
onalf
ail
uret
oaddr
esst
hispr
obl
em.Thepr
obl
em per
sist
s
f
rom acent
urynow,
butst
il
lwehav
en’
tbeenabl
etor
eacht
oadeci
sionwhi
chi
sfai
rto
al
lthest
akehol
der
sinv
olv
ed.Asf
arasIsee,t
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argel
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ticalmot
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Mostoft
he t
ime,r
athert
han dependi
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he sci
ent
if
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ch i
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ved,t
he
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ernmentofr
espect
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atesdeci
dedt
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e’
ssent
iment
stopr
otectt
hei
r
v
otebank.Thi
shasbeencl
ear
lyshowni
nthecasewher
etheExecut
ivecommi
tt
ee
r
esponsi
blef
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ngsur
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hert
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l
owi
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het
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so,
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rolt
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si
tuat
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ti
mat
elywheni
tmakesi
t,i
tisont
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soft
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amet
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ch
wer
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n1892and1924,al
most100y
ear
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il
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tincor
por
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f
easi
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anchi
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omakesur
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sissuehasj
ustr
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oundf
ormat
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tt
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r
egul
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it
ies,
butar
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uti
oni
sst
il
lnoti
nsi
ghti
nnearf
utur
e.

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