Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT)-set up to adjudicate inter-State Disputes relating to sharing & utilization of water of inter-State Narmada river, could visualize continued differences regardingimplementation of its directions and decisions. Hence, it directed setting up of Narmada Control Authority (NCA) as a machineryfor implementation of its directions and decision in the form of a body corporate with representatives of the four party States of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and representatives of Govt. of India.
Introspection into its functioning over 37 years since its setting up on 20th December, 1980, vindicates the visionary approach of NWDT in establishing a permanent mechanism with corporate approach to reconcile differences amongst party States with regard to sharing & utilization of Narmada river water and distribution of hydropower generated from Sardar Sarovar Project in compliance to the decisions of NWDT. Several contentious issues have been raised by the party States with regard to sharing of costs, compensations and project features over last 37 years. Some of them have already been resolved in a true corporate spirit, while rests of them are under discussions for their amicable resolution. NCA has also proved as a unifying institution to oversee implementation of resettlement and rehabilitation of project affected families and environment safeguard measures for Sardar Sarovar Project and to defend the interests of party States before Hon'ble Supreme Court and High Courts. This introspection will provide a base for institutional mechanism to be adopted in case of amicable resolution of inter-State Water Disputes and implementation of inter-State water resources projects in India.
Conflicts, Cooperation, Environment Safeguard Measures, Inter-State Water Disputes, Narmada Control Authority, Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal, Resettlement & Rehabilitation, Sardar Sarovar Project
