Narmada River & Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT)

Narmada River & Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT)
Why in News?
•    The Chief Ministers of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan signed a historic agreement resolving long-pending financial issues arising from the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT) Award.
•    The agreement settles pending dues relating to the Sardar Sarovar Project and Indira Sagar Dam, including - Cost-sharing arrangements, Resettlement & Rehabilitation (R&R) expenditure, Compensation for submerged land, and Interest burden incurred during project construction.
Narmada River
•    The Narmada River is the fifth-longest river in India and the longest west-flowing river of the country.
•    It is often called the "Lifeline of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat" because of its importance for irrigation, drinking water and hydroelectric power.
•    The river originates from the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh.
•    It flows 1,312 km before emptying into the Gulf of Khambhat in the Arabian Sea.
•    It traditionally forms the geographical divide between North and South India.
•    The Narmada River flows westward through a rift valley, bounded by the Vindhya Range to the north, the Satpura Range to the south, and the Maikala Range to the east.
States Covered & Importance
•    The Narmada River flows through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, while its basin also extends into Chhattisgarh. 
•    It is a vital source of irrigation, drinking water, hydroelectric power, and holds significant cultural and religious importance.
Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT)
Establishment
•    Constituted by the Union Government in 1969 under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
•    NWDT delivered its Award in 1979.
Functions
The Tribunal determined:
•    Allocation of Narmada waters among the four basin states.
•    Sharing of hydroelectric power generated from the project.
•    Principles governing interstate utilisation of river waters.
States Covered
•    Madhya Pradesh
•    Gujarat
•    Maharashtra
•    Rajasthan
Significance of the Latest Agreement
•    The latest agreement resolves long-pending financial disputes arising from the implementation of the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT) Award by finalising cost-sharing arrangements for the Sardar Sarovar Project and settling outstanding liabilities relating to Resettlement & Rehabilitation (R&R), compensation for submerged land, and construction-related interest burden. 
•    The settlement marks a significant step towards cooperative federalism, demonstrating consensus-based resolution of long-standing inter-State water and infrastructure issues.
Narmada Valley Development Project
•    The Narmada Valley Development Project is a multipurpose river valley programme.
•    It comprise of a series of dams developed for irrigation, drinking water supply, hydroelectric power generation, and regional development. 
•    Its two principal projects are the Sardar Sarovar Project and the Indira Sagar Dam. 
Sardar Sarovar Project
•    Located on the Narmada River in Gujarat, the Sardar Sarovar Dam is the largest of the major dams planned under the Narmada Valley Development Project. 
•    The project provides irrigation, drinking water, and hydroelectric power to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. 
•    It generates 1,450 MW of electricity through the River Bed Power House and the Canal Head Power House. 
•    The reservoir is also overlooked by the Statue of Unity.