The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal issues a final warning to Odisha and Chhattisgarh to resolve water-sharing issues or face a merit-based judgment
OdishaPlus Bureau
The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal has conveyed its dissatisfaction regarding the frequent adjournments in the proceedings requested by Odisha and Chhattisgarh. It noted that despite assertions of efforts towards reaching an amicable resolution, no substantial proposal or agreement has been presented to it. “We are not particularly pleased with the way the proceedings are being managed. The hearings are being postponed at the request of the learned advocates representing the parties, citing that they are earnestly contemplating a settlement; however, thus far, no definitive proposal concerning any of the disputed matters has been recorded,” the tribunal stated in an order issued on Monday.
The tribunal, which includes Chairperson Bela M Trivedi and members Ravi Ranjan and Indermeet Kaur Kochhar, has provided “one final opportunity” for both states to finalize the minutes from the technical committee meeting that took place on April 8, which concentrated on the annual water availability. It has scheduled May 2 as the next hearing date. Clarifying its stance, the tribunal indicated that if the states do not finalize the minutes or present any consensus on the disputed matters by the next hearing, it will continue with the case based on its merits.
Additionally, the tribunal observed that although the counsels for Odisha and Chhattisgarh jointly informed it on April 11 that the annual water availability data would be finalized by April 20, they requested more time. The states also did not provide suggestions for revising the issues already established in the reference proceedings to narrow the scope of the dispute, it noted.
In response to this situation, Sudarshan Das, the convener of Mahanadi Bachao Andolan, expressed disappointment that even after eight years since the tribunal’s establishment, the governments have not managed to submit reliable data on water availability in the Mahanadi.
The tribunal’s duration has recently been prolonged by nine months until January 2027, coinciding with the plans of Odisha and Chhattisgarh to convene a meeting of chief ministers aimed at amicably resolving the dispute. Officials have reported advancements in several technical committee meetings and suggested that a joint meeting of the legal and administrative teams may take place in the near future.
The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal was established on March 12, 2018, in response to a lawsuit filed by Odisha that sought adjudication regarding the inter-state water-sharing conflict. Odisha has asserted that efforts are ongoing to achieve an amicable resolution.