Argus News - Mahanadi Water Disputes to Visit Odisha This Week

Bhubaneswar, Feb 23: The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal team is scheduled to arrive in Odisha for a five-day visit from February 26 to March 2. The team, comprising tribunal members and their families, will be led by Chairperson Justice Bela M. Trivedi.

The team will tour key districts including Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Khordha, and Puri. The visit is seen as a significant step in the long-standing Mahanadi water-sharing dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

According to official communication, the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed district administrations to make necessary arrangements for the tribunal’s visit. The itinerary includes inspections in Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, and Khordha, followed by a concluding visit to Puri, where the team will seek blessings at the Jagannath Temple. District Collectors have been instructed to ensure smooth preparations and security during the tour.

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The tribunal’s visit carries immense importance for Odisha, as the state has been engaged in a prolonged dispute with neighbouring Chhattisgarh over the equitable distribution of Mahanadi river water. Odisha has consistently raised concerns about upstream projects in Chhattisgarh affecting water flow into the state.

The tribunal, constituted in March 2018 under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, was tasked with resolving the matter after bilateral negotiations failed.

Progress of the tribunal had slowed due to the chairperson’s post remaining vacant for nine months, delaying hearings. The next hearing, initially scheduled for February 7, has now been postponed to March 14, following the tribunal’s field inspection in Odisha.

The tribunal’s current tenure is set to expire on April 13, but both Odisha and Chhattisgarh have requested an extension. Odisha has formally urged the Centre to extend the tribunal’s functioning until March 27, 2027.

The Mahanadi dispute has been a contentious issue for nearly a decade. In 2016, attempts at reconciliation through meetings convened by the Union Water Resources Ministry failed, with then Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik walking out midway. Later, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari suggested a negotiated settlement, but the Odisha government insisted on a tribunal-led resolution.

As the tribunal prepares for its Odisha tour, hopes are high that the inspection and subsequent hearings will pave the way for a fair settlement. The visit is expected to provide the tribunal with firsthand insights into the ground realities of water usage, irrigation needs, and the socio-economic impact of the dispute.