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4. Often there are disputes between States in India relating to the waters of inter State rivers, as in the present case. To resolve these disputes Parliament has enacted the Inter State Water Dispute Act, 1956, which was amended in 2002. This Act has provided for a mechanism for resolving such water disputes between States through Tribunals constituted under Section 4 of the Act.

5. Experience has shown that while such Tribunals have played a role in resolving such disputes to a certain extent, but they have not, and cannot resolve the water shortage problem permanently. For instance if there is a dispute between State A and State B relating to water, and if the Tribunal decides in favour of State A then the farmers and persons living in urban areas in State B often resort to agitations which may even lead to violence. Hence the real solution of the water shortage problem in the country can only lie in utilizing the immense water reserves in the sea and in the snow mountains by scientific methods. Rain water must also be scientifically managed.

6. As regards sea water, the basic problem is how to convert saline water into fresh water through an inexpensive method. The methods tried till now have been distillation and reverse osmosis, but these are expensive methods. We have to find out inexpensive methods for this, by scientific research. Similarly, the immense water reserves in the Himalayas in the form of ice can be utilized for the people of the North and Central Indian States.

7. In my opinion, it is science which can solve this problem.

8. It is indeed sad that a country like India which solved the problem of town planning 6000 years ago in the Indus Valley Civilization and which discovered the decimal system in Mathematics and Plastic Surgery in Medicine in ancient times, and is largely managing Silicon Valley in U.S.A. today has been unable to solve the problem of water shortage till now. In my opinion there is no dearth of eminent scientists in the field who can solve this problem, but they have not been organized and brought together and not been requested by the Central and State Governments to solve this problem, nor given the facilities for this.

11. The same view was taken in several other decisions by this Court in various other decisions.

12. I, therefore, recommend to the Central Government to immediately constitute a body of eminent scientists in the field who should be requested to do scientific research in this area on a war footing to find out scientific ways and means of solving the water shortage problem in the country. This body of scientists should be given all the financial, technical and administrative help by the Central and State Governments for this purpose. They should be requested by the Central and State Governments to do their patriotic duty to the nation in this connection, and by scientific research to find out the ways of solving the water shortage problem in the country. The help and advice of foreign scientific experts and/or Indian scientists settled abroad who are specialized in this field may also be taken, since the solution to the problem will not only help India but also foreign countries which are facing the same problem, some of which may already have progressed significantly in this area.