Justice Vineet Saran, judge of the Supreme Court, has been appointed as the Ravi-Beas Water Tribunal chairman.
- The appointments were made under section 5A of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (33 of 1956) by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- The Ravi-Beas Water Tribunal is important in view of the issue of water availability and allocation discussed at various levels as part of concerted efforts to reach an amicable resolution for the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue between Punjab and Haryana.
Constitution and Inter-state water dispute
- Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments.
- In order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments, Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to them through various schemes and programmes.
- Article 246, Union list, entry-56: Regulation and development of inter-State rivers and river valleys to the extent to which such regulation and development under the control of the Union is declared by Parliament by law to be expedient in the public interest.”
- Article 262 (1): “Parliament may, by law, provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-State river or river valley.”
- Article 262 (2): “Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament may, by law, provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint as is referred to in clause (1).”
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