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Inter-State River Water Disputes in India: Institutions and Mechanisms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2007

SULAGNA MAITRA
SULAGNA MAITRA
Affiliation:
SYLFF Research Scholar, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, [email protected]
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Abstract

India is a large country with 29 states as constituents in its federal structure. The large and growing population imposes great pressure on available natural resources. Disputes arising out of contested river water entitlements between states are common and often intractable. Laws conceived for settling such disputes were created for a particular socio-political environment characterized by strong Centre and relatively non-assertive states. The paper argues that this political configuration has changed dramatically and in turn has reduced the efficacy of the existing statutory mechanisms. A new paradigm for dispute resolution is required. The existing institutional mechanism and its political environment are examined and the structural changes identified. A set of reforms in the dispute resolution mechanism is proposed, which would reduce the friction between the statutory mechanism and its operational environment.

Type
Research Article
Information
Japanese Journal of Political Science , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , August 2007 , pp. 209 - 231
Copyright
© 2007 Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

The article has been written as a part of the Jadavpur University-Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Programme, 2005–2006.