State Of Orissa vs Government Of India & Anr

The Supreme Court directed the Government of India to constitute a Tribunal under Section 4 of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956, to address the dispute raised by the State of Orissa regarding the construction of the Side Channel Weir and Flood Flow Canal Project by Andhra Pradesh on the Vansadhara river. The Court emphasized that the project could adversely affect the water supply to Orissa, impacting the livelihood of its citizens, thereby invoking Article 21 of the Constitution. The holding mandates the establishment of a legal forum to resolve inter-state water disputes, reinforcing the need for adherence to agreements made between states regarding water sharing.