Vaiko condemns Centre over river bill

“The Central government is planning to introduce River Basin Management Bill in the upcoming winter session. The bill is against the interests of the State government,” said Vaiko in a statement. 

He also said that Article 262 of the Constitution deals with inter-state river water dispute and based on it, the Union government had enacted Inter-State Water Disputes Act of 1956 to solve the water problems between two States.

Under the Act, if there is a dispute between two States on sharing of water, a tribunal would be set up by the Central government. Based on the existing Act, many tribunals were set up over the past several years. Cauvery tribunal is one such and Tamil Nadu government had successfully fought in the tribunal to get its rights. 

However, under the River Basin Management Bill, new water commissions for every river would be set up and their judgments would override the previous judgments. 

If the new Bill is passed, the rights of Tamil Nadu obtained through various legal battles would go waste and everything will have to commence from the beginning which will hurt the rights of the State, said Vaiko.