The Inter-State Water Disputes (Amendment) Act, 2019 aims to expedite resolution of water disputes by:
- Abolishing all existing tribunals
- Creating a permanent Inter-State Water Disputes Tribunal with fixed timelines
- Transferring all disputes to Supreme Court
- Allowing States to unilaterally decide water sharing
Answer: Creating a permanent Inter-State Water Disputes Tribunal with fixed timelines
Inter-State Water Disputes (Amendment) Act, 2019: Key reforms: (a) Single permanent tribunal replaces multiple ad-hoc tribunals, (b) Fixed timelines: Inquiry completion within 4.5 years, award within 1 year of inquiry report, (c) Award final and binding, with implementation monitoring mechanism, (d) Dispute Resolution Committee for pre-litigation resolution. Addresses delays in existing system (e.g., Cauvery dispute took decades). Challenges: Technical complexity of water sharing, political sensitivities, enforcement of awards. Illustrates ongoing evolution of federal dispute resolution mechanisms.