Minister of Water Resources and River Development Uma Bharti today introduced the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in the Lok Sabha. Speaking on the Bill, Ms Bharti called it a revolutionary step towards the resolution of Inter- State River Water Disputes. <br/><br/>She said, the bill proposes a Single Standing Tribunal with multiple benches instead of existing multiple tribunals. It will consist of one Chairperson, one Vice-Chairperson and not more than six other members. The total time period for adjudication of dispute has been fixed at maximum of four and half years. <br/><br/>The decision of the Tribunal will be final and binding with no requirement of publication in the official Gazette. It also proposes to introduce mechanism to resolve the dispute amicably by negotiations, through a Dispute Resolution Committee consisting of experts before dispute is referred to the tribunal. <br/><br/>The Bill also provides for transparent data collection system at the national level for each river basin. Inter-state river water disputes are on the rise on account of increase in water demands by the States. The new Bill proposes to streamline the adjudication of river water disputes and make the present legal and institutional architecture robust. <br/> <br/>