Bhubaneswar: Seeking an extension of the tenure of the Mahanadi Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT), the Odisha government on Wednesday urged the Centre to step in as a mediator to facilitate an amicable resolution of the long-pending water-sharing dispute with neighbouring Chhattisgarh.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the state government has requested the Union government to take the lead in resolving the issue through dialogue, even as the matter remains under consideration of the tribunal. Emphasising Odisha’s preference for a negotiated settlement, Pujari said discussions have already been held with both the Centre and the Chhattisgarh government.
“Odisha wants the dispute to be resolved amicably. The Centre needs to play the role of a mediator between the two states,” Pujari told reporters.
The minister said an inter-ministerial committee constituted by the Odisha government and headed by Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo has also engaged with the Chhattisgarh government, including discussions with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
At the same time, Odisha has formally written to the Centre seeking a nine-month extension of the MWDT’s tenure, as the tribunal’s current term is nearing completion. Justifying the demand, Pujari said the chairperson of the tribunal was unavailable for nearly nine months, during which no hearings could be conducted.
“As a result, the proceedings were stalled. Given this loss of time, it is necessary to extend the tenure of the tribunal,” he said.
The MWDT was constituted in March 2018 under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 to adjudicate the dispute over sharing of Mahanadi river waters between Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The dispute dates back to 2016, when Odisha approached the Centre alleging that Chhattisgarh had constructed several dams and barrages upstream, adversely affecting the free flow of water into Odisha.
Despite being operational for nearly five years, the tribunal has made limited progress. Pujari pointed out that only the statement of a single witness has been recorded so far, underscoring the need for an extension to enable meaningful adjudication.
