Mahanadi Water Dispute: Centre Hands Over ToR To Tribunal Chairman

Bhubaneswar: Even as the water sharing dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh continues to dominate the ongoing session of Odisha Assembly, the central government on Tuesday handed over Terms of Reference (ToR) of Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal to Supreme Court Judge and Tribunal Chairman Justice A M Khanwilkar.

Earlier in the day, Odisha Water Resources Minister Niranjan Pujari had informed the House about 2268 projects over the river built by the Chhattisgarh government.

According to official sources, U.P. Singh, Secretary Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, briefed Justice Khanwilkar about the profile of the Mahanadi, development of water resource projects by various states and dispute in sharing of its waters. He was also apprised him of the legal provisions for adjudication of water disputes.

Singh also assured him that the central government was taking all necessary steps for early functioning of the Tribunal and sought his guidance on the road map for resolving the  dispute.

The Tribunal to settle the row between Odisha and Chhattisgarh on sharing the water of the Mahanadi was constituted on March 12, a month after the Union Cabinet, keeping with a Supreme Court order, gave its nod.

It is expected to determine water sharing among the two states on the basis of availability of water in the complete Mahanadi basin, contribution and present utilisation of water resource in each State and potential for future development, the sources added.

On November 19, 2017, the Odisha government had submitted complaint to the Centre under Section 3 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act (ISRWD), 1956, seeking constitution of Inter-State Water Disputes Tribunal for adjudication of water disputes with respect to the Mahanadi between the neighbouring states.

Following this, the Ministry constituted a Negotiation Committee which held two meetings, but Odisha did not participate in any of these.

Odisha also filed Original Suit 1 of 2017 in the Supreme Court. On January 23, the apex directed the central government to constitute a Tribunal for adjudication of disputes on the river and also advised Odisha to present its plea before the Tribunal.