Four States Resolve Narmada (Sardar Sarovar) Issues Through Historic Agreement
Context
The four beneficiary States of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan have signed a one-time settlement agreement to resolve long-pending financial disputes related to the project. The agreement was signed in the presence of the Union Home Minister and Union Jal Shakti Minister, marking a major step towards cooperative management of inter-State river resources.
Facts
- The agreement was signed by the Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
- The Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT) was constituted in 1969 and delivered its award in 1979, determining the allocation of Narmada waters and hydropower benefits among the States.
- The settlement resolves outstanding issues related to:
- Cost-sharing for the Sardar Sarovar Project and Indira Sagar Project.
- Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) expenditure.
- Compensation for submergence of land.
- Interest liabilities on construction-related borrowings.
- The agreement complements recent inter-State water cooperation initiatives, including the Rajasthan–Haryana Yamuna Water Agreement and the Kishau Multipurpose Project MoU.
Significance
- Demonstrates the spirit of cooperative federalism by resolving decades-old disputes through consensus rather than prolonged litigation.
- Ensures smoother implementation and operation of the Sardar Sarovar Project.
- Facilitates better irrigation, drinking water supply, and power generation benefits for the participating States.
Static Concepts
- Article 262 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to legislate on disputes relating to inter-State river waters and permits exclusion of judicial jurisdiction in such matters.
- The Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956 provides the legal framework for establishing tribunals such as the NWDT.
- Water is a State List subject (Entry 17), while regulation and development of inter-State rivers fall under Entry 56 of the Union List.
- The Sardar Sarovar Dam, located on the Narmada River in Gujarat, is a multipurpose project supplying irrigation, drinking water, and hydroelectric power to four States.
- The Narmada River originates from Amarkantak (Madhya Pradesh) and flows westward through a rift valley before emptying into the Arabian Sea.