WATER CONFLICTS IN INDIA

AMAR ARUN BAGADE

IIT KHARAGPUR
19WM60R06
 CONTENT
• INTRODUCTION
• CONFLICT
• WATER RIGHTS
 INTRODUCTION

 IMPORTANCE OF WATER :-
• Most of the water found on earth is not fit to
drink.
• Only about 3% freshwater is found on the
earth.
• Rain is an important source for fresh water.
• In India, there is Rain for 2-3 months.
• Hence, it is important to save the water.
 IMPORTANCE OF WATER

Source:- Source:- Ministry of Water Resources, Govt. of India

 CONFLICT
• It refers to confrontations between groups or
categories of the people regarding a resource activity
and its management.
• It may be positioned on a continum ranging from
high tension to outright voilence.
(Bavinck, sowman and Menon, 2014)
• ‘a serious disagreement or argument, typically a
protracted one’.
(Oxford dictionary)
 CONFLICT
• Conflicting interests may or may not lead to
confrontations.
• Conflicts of interests could persist on account of
unequal power relations.
 WATER RIGHTS
 Theory of absolute territorial sovereignty :-
• This theory explains that, irrespective of the
consequences in other countries and without duty of
the consult, every can utilize the water of the
international river flowing on its territory, as it likes.
 Theory of absolute territorial integrity :-
• This explains that, the lower riparian of an international
river has right to full flow of water of natural quality
intrusion with the natural flow by the upstream state
require the consent of the downstream riparian.
 WATER RIGHTS
 Theory of limited territorial sovereignty :-
• This theory states that every state may and is free to
enjoy the use of water flowing through their territory
as long as such utilization does not disturb the rights
and interests of co-riparian.
 DOMESTIC CONFLICTS
 Babhli :- (Disputed by Andhra Pradesh)
• The babhli issue demonstrates that often water
conflicts are not about water alone.
• A gated check dam on Godavari river is constructed
located near Babhli village in Maharashtra.
• As per terms of pact, Maharashtra could utilize 60
TMC of Godavari water while the AP could go ahead
with building sriramsagar dam and utilize rest of the
water.
• Andhra Pradesh contends that Babhli Project is
constructed on the water impounded area of
sriramsagar dam which is illegal and ethically wrong.
• Telangana claims that the entire northern part might
become desert.
• In 2013, supreme court ruled in favour of
Maharashtra, with safeguards contained in the
judgment included the stipulation to open Babhli
gates during monsoon period (July to October) to
allows inflow to sriramsagar dam.
• The union cabinet on 17 october 2013 set up a 3
member supervisory committee on the Babhli
barrage to implement the directions of the supreme
court
 Cauvery Water Dispute :- (Karnataka and Tamil Nadu)
• The genesis of this conflict rest in two agreements in 1892
and 1924 between the erstwhile Madras Presidency and
Princely state of Mysore.
• Karnataka contends that it does not receive its due share
of water from the river. It claims that the agreements
were skewed heavily in favour of Madras Presidency and
has demanded a renegotiated settlement based on
equitable sharing of waters.
• Tamil Nadu, on the other hand pleads that it developed
3000000 acres of land and so has come to depend heavily
on existing water usage. Any change would heavily affect
the millions of farmers in the state.
• The Govt of India gave final verdict on 5 feb 2007
allocating Cauvery river water as,
1) Karnataka 270 TMC
2) Tamil Nadu 419 TMC
3) Kerala 30 TMC
4) Puducherry 7 TMC
• All four states decided to file review petitions
seeking clarification and possible renegotiation of
the order.
• On 20 Feb 2013, based on directions of supreme
court , Govt of India has notified the final award of
the Cauvery water Dispute Tribunal.
• On 16 Feb 2018, the Supreme court gave the verdict
that, allocating more water to the state of Karnataka.
• The final allocation for a total of 740 TMC is:
1) Karnataka : 284.75 (270 + 14.75) TMC
2) Tamil Nadu : 404.25 (419 – 14.75) TMC
3) Kerala : 30 TMC
4) Puducherry : 7 TMC
 INTERSTATE RIVER WATER DISPUTE
ACT, 1956
• It include provisions for the establishment of
the tribunals to adjudicate where direct
negotiations have failed.