NEW DELHI: India’s two oldest water dispute tribunals — the 40-year-old Ravi and Beas Water Disputes Tribunal and the 22-year-old Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal — have received a one-year extension, until August 5, 2027, and July 31, 2027, respectively. Both tribunals have been unable to resolve the vexed issues despite long years and repeated extensions.
Extension Details
A gazette notification for the extension of the Ravi and Beas Tribunal stated that the Centre considered it necessary to extend the deadline until August 5 next year. In the other dispute, a separate gazette notification extended the period for submission of the report to July 31, 2027.
These extensions highlight the complexity of inter-state water disputes in India, which often involve decades of legal and political wrangling. The tribunals were established under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act to adjudicate conflicts over water sharing between states.
Background
The Ravi and Beas Tribunal deals with water sharing between Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, while the Krishna Tribunal addresses disputes among Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Both have faced challenges in reaching a consensus due to conflicting claims and changing water availability.
The extensions come as the government continues to seek a permanent resolution to these long-standing issues, which are critical for agricultural and drinking water needs in the affected regions.
