Bill for permanent water tribunal introduced in Lok Sabha

New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) A bill to set up a single, permanent tribunal to adjudicate all inter-state river water disputes was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, amid opposition from the Biju Janata Dal.

The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017, was introduced by Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti. The draft legislation provides for subsuming all existing mechanism for water disputes settlement in the country.

BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab objected to the bill’s introduction, saying water is a state issue. The objection was, however, overruled by the Speaker and the bill moved in the house.

Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Footwear Design and Development Institute Bill, 2017, in the lower house.

The bill seeks to declare the footwear designing institute at Noida in Uttar Pradesh an institution of national importance.