River-Linking and Inter-State Water Disputes: Challenges and Solutions

Gist The Union government has recently emphasized mega river-linking projects, such as connecting the Brahmaputra to southern rivers, to ensure long-term water security. However, this supply-side approach masks persistent administrative delays in resolving existing inter-state water disputes, as seen in the prolonged pendency of the Pennaiyar and Mekedatu tribunals. For UPSC aspirants, understanding the limitations of inter-basin transfers, the statutory hurdles under the inter-state dispute mechanisms, and the urgent need to shift toward demand-side groundwater management is crucial for governance and ecology topics. Background Inter-state river water disputes in India are governed by the Interstate River Water Disputes IRWD Act, 1956 , which operationalizes Article 262 of the Constitution. The Act empowers the Union government to constitute an ad-hoc tribunal for adjudication when states cannot resolve water-sharing disagreements through negotiation. Historically, to address structural water deficits, India has pursued inter-basin water transfers —diverting water from a "surplus" river basin to a "deficit" one. Post- 2014 , the Union government established a Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers to expedite a nationwide grid, shifting the focus towards mega supply-side interventions despite…