TV
The Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh is set to come up for hearing on Saturday before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal. The hearing follows a series of informal discussions held earlier at the Chief Minister level between the two states.
According to sources, both the political and administrative leadership of Odisha and Chhattisgarh have engaged in dialogue in recent weeks, exploring the possibility of resolving the long-standing water-sharing dispute through mutual understanding and compromise.
During the previous hearing, Odisha’s Advocate General, Pitambar Acharya, informed the Tribunal that discussions were underway at various levels, including between chief secretaries and political representatives, intending to find an amicable solution outside of the Court.
The Tribunal had earlier directed both parties to update it on the progress made towards resolving the issue by August. Based on that, the next phase of the hearing was scheduled.
As both states now prepare to present their status reports before the Tribunal, today’s hearing will be crucial in determining whether the matter can move towards resolution or if further legal proceedings will be required.
Notably, the Tribunal was formed in 2018, but no remarkable milestone was achieved in resolving the long-standing dispute. In December, the new chairman of the Tribunal was appointed, and later, the first hearing was held on July 17, and the second hearing is scheduled today.
On the other hand, an all-party meeting was convened on Friday to discuss a solution to the Mahanadi water dispute. The meeting was held in Bhubaneswar and witnessed participation from members of various political parties. Representatives of several social organisations were also present at the discussion.
During the meeting, five key resolutions were passed. It was decided that a delegation would meet the President of India and submit a memorandum seeking intervention in resolving the Mahanadi dispute. Another proposal was passed to approach the Prime Minister and urge him to mediate between the two states to arrive at a solution.
“The issue will not be resolved if the two State governments discuss it only among themselves. The State government should seek the advice of political parties, social organisations, and experts before entering into any discussion with Chhattisgarh,” said convenor of Mahanadi Bachao Andolan, Sudarsan Das.
