Inter State Matters(ISM) Directorate under Irrigation Management Organization (IMO) started functioning from January 1987. Consequent upon decision taken in the 191^th commission meeting held on 20.12.16, CWC vide Office order No Secy/CWC/2017/13 dated 21.03.2017 has bifurcated ISM Directorate into two Directorate’snamely, Inter State Matters-1(ISM-1)& Inter State Matters-2(ISM-2) w.e.f. 01.04.2017 under WP&P wing.

The Functions performed by ISM-1 are Following:

1. Matters relating to inter-state water disputes, court cases, tribunal awards, agreements etc. as well as assisting the Ministry of Water Resources in these matters.
2. Secretariat works pertaining to Babhali Barrage on river Godavari
3. Formulation / review of various existing and proposed constitutional provision/water related acts/laws in the country
4. Examination of major and medium irrigation and power projects from interstate angle including NWDA reports referred to Central Water Commission.
5. Preparation of guidelines for allocation of surface waters of interstate rivers
6. Work relating to various ZonalCouncil Meetings and
7. Documentation of various interstate and international agreements and tribunal awards, water laws/water rights etc.
8. This Dte will cover matters pertaining to basins other than assigned to ISM Dte-2.
9. This Dte will be repository of all legal instruments/issues pertaining to water sector.