River Linking Project — Policy Reforms

Entry	Year	Description	Impact
Inter-State Water Disputes (Amendment) Act, 2002	2002	This amendment aimed to streamline the adjudication process for inter-state water disputes. It introduced a provision for a single tribunal to be established for all disputes, with a fixed time frame for giving its award. It also mandated that the decision of the tribunal would be final and binding on the parties to the dispute. This was a significant step towards faster resolution of water conflicts, which are a major impediment to large-scale water projects like river linking.	Improved the legal framework for resolving inter-state water disputes, which are a major hurdle for river linking projects. While not directly amending the Constitution, it strengthened the statutory mechanism for water conflict resolution, crucial for securing consensus for NRLP links.
Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Proposed)	2019	This Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha but not yet enacted, proposes to further simplify the inter-state water dispute resolution process. It suggests replacing multiple existing tribunals with a single permanent 'Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal' with multiple benches. It also introduces a 'Dispute Resolution Committee' (DRC) to resolve disputes amicably before they are referred to the Tribunal, with a fixed timeframe for both the DRC and the Tribunal. The aim is to expedite justice and reduce delays.	If enacted, this would significantly overhaul the dispute resolution mechanism, potentially accelerating the resolution of water conflicts that stall river linking projects. It reflects the ongoing governmental effort to create a more efficient system for managing inter-state water issues, which are central to the NRLP's progress.