In 1964, to resolve the dispute about sharing of the Narmada Water between the governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, the government of India appointed an expert committee under the chairmanship of late Dr. Khosla, which recommended a higher dam with FRL 500 feet. (152.44metres) in 1965. However, the Government of Madhya Pradesh did not accept the Khosla Committee report and the plan utilising Narmada Water proposed by that Committee. Thereafter the then Union Minister of Irrigation, Dr. K. L. Rao made efoorts to bring about agreement amongst the riparian states, which also did not succeed. Therefore, the Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal (NWDT) was constituted by the Government of India in 1969, under the Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
The NWDT was headed by sitting judge of the Supreme Court of India, the other two member being member of two High Court.