the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956, which provides for adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-state rivers and river valleys, will soon be amended to incorporate the Inter-State Council on the Sarkaria Commission's recommendations. A bill to this effect will be introduced in the forthcoming session of Parliament.

The major changes that are envisaged in the act include introduction of a provision, which stipulates that decisions of the dispute tribunals would have the same force and sanction as the Supreme Court's order. A clause that will enable tribunals to get any data they may require from the state governments will also be included.

Another proposed addition is provision to specify a time frame of three years for the tribunals to give a decision. This can be extended up to two years in case of unavoidable circumstances.