Centre extends Tribunal term as Mahanadi water row continues
Tribunal gets 9-month extension
Bhubaneswar | Desk: The Central Government has further extended the tenure of the 'Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal' (MWDT) constituted to resolve issues related to the sharing of Mahanadi river waters between Odisha and Chhattisgarh by another nine months. The Tribunal will now be able to submit its final report and verdict by January 13, 2027.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Tribunal's existing tenure was set to expire on April 13, 2026, which has now been extended.
This decision was taken based on the joint recommendation of both states, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Both governments had argued that the Tribunal's proceedings were adversely affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that the post of Chairperson remained vacant for nine months; consequently, additional time is required to complete the work.
A senior official stated that this extension would enable the Tribunal to continue its hearings without any hindrance and arrive at a concrete resolution.
It is noteworthy that the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal was constituted in 2018.
The Odisha government had alleged that the construction of several barrages by Chhattisgarh in the upper reaches of the river was adversely impacting the water flow in the downstream areas.
Currently, members of the Tribunal have already conducted on-the-spot visits to the regions associated with the Mahanadi river in both states. While legal hearings are ongoing on one front, both states are simultaneously attempting to find a resolution to the dispute through dialogue.
