Mahanadi Water Sharing Dispute: Tribunal Sets Aug 3 as Next Date of Hearing

New Delhi: The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal has set August 3 as the next date of hearing on Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

The three-member Tribunal was supposed to pronounce its verdict today on the interim application of the Odisha Government relating to sharing of the river water with the neighboring state. However, the panel fixed August 3 as the next date of hearing, sources said.

Meanwhile, the Tribunal has urged both the governments of Odisha and Chhattisgarh to submit reports and necessary documents related to original suit by October 19.

Odisha has demanded release of 1.74 million acre-feet of water by Chhattisgarh during the non-monsoon season as per the tripartite agreement on Mahanadi water sharing between Odisha, Chhattisgarh and the Centre.

Notably, the Tribunal headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, Judge, Supreme Court of India, was constituted in March last year following orders of the apex court in a suit filed by the Odisha Government.
Odisha had sought to refer the water dispute regarding the inter-state river Mahanadi and its river valley to a Tribunal for adjudication under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.