Why in News:

The Karnataka Chief Minister has said that it is time to examine the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act since it is causing more disputes than it is resolving. The chief minister’s declaration comes at a time when Karnataka has been embroiled in a protracted legal battle with neighbours Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Goa, and Andhra Pradesh over inter-state water conflicts involving the Cauvery, Mahadayi, and Krishna rivers.

The need of the hour:

• The multi-tiered approach to resolving interstate water conflicts is eliminated in a single step.
• The answer should be based on maximising the usefulness of a river basin’s capacity and using technology, with no regard for political issues.

Water issue between various states:

• Art 262 establishes a mechanism for resolving interstate water issues. It has two provisions:
• Parliament may enact legislation to resolve any disagreement or complaint about the usage, distribution, and management of waters in any interstate river or river valley.
• Parliament may further specify that no such dispute or complaint shall be heard by the Supreme Court or any other court.
• The central government has established the river boards act (1956) and the Inter-state water disputes act (1956) according to the act’s stipulations.
• The river board statute establishes river boards to regulate and develop the Interstate River and its valleys. A river board of this kind is constituted at the request of the respective state governments.
• The interstate water dispute legislation authorises the central government to establish an ad hoc tribunal to resolve disputes between two or more states over the water in an interstate river. The tribunal’s verdict would be definitive and conclusive. Additionally, the legislation precludes the Supreme Court and any other court from having jurisdiction in this dispute.

The interstate Water Dispute Act of 1956:

• The Inter-State Water Dispute Act, 1956, which establishes the legal framework for resolving such disputes, has several shortcomings, including the absence of a time restriction for settling river water disputes.
• Delays arise as a result of the absence of a time restriction for adjudication by a Tribunal, the absence of an upper age limit for the Chairman or Members, the stalling of work owing to the emergence of any vacancy, and the absence of a time limit for publishing the Tribunal’s report.
• Since 1956, the River Boards Act 1956, which was enacted to enable interstate cooperation on water resource development, has been a ‘dead letter.’
• The Central Water Commission (CWC) regulates surface water, whereas the Central Ground Water Board of India regulates groundwater (CGWB). Both organisations operate autonomously, and there is no venue for discussion of water management with state governments.

Why in News:

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information (MeitY) is accepting applications for its Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme from 100 domestic enterprises, start-ups, and MSMEs.

About:

• MeitY announced the DLI Scheme in December 2021.
• Under the DLI Scheme, financial incentives and assistance for design infrastructure will be extended for a five-year term.
• This will be extended to domestic firms, start-ups, and MSMEs at different phases of semiconductor design development and deployment, including Integrated Circuits, Chipsets, System on Chips, Systems & IP Cores, and semiconductor linked design.
• The initiative intends to foster at least 20 indigenous semiconductor design businesses and assist them in achieving revenue of more than Rs. 1500 crore in the next five years.
• Centre for Advanced Computing Development (C-DAC), a scientific society governed by MeitY would be Implementing agency.
• Applicants who are accepted and receive incentives will be encouraged to maintain their domestic status for a period of three years after their receipt of incentives under the programme.
• It is beneficially held by resident Indian citizens and/or corporations that are ultimately owned and managed by resident Indian citizens.
• To be eligible for incentives under the Scheme, an applicant must satisfy the Threshold and Ceiling Limits.
• From January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2024, a dedicated site has been established for the purpose of soliciting online applications.
• Additionally, the DLI Scheme will take a graded and proactive approach to identify products of national importance and develop strategies for their complete or near-complete indigenisation and deployment, thereby advancing import substitution and value addition in strategic and societal sectors.