Bansadhara water dispute: SC-appointed tribunal team begins inspection in Gajapati

Berhampur: A special tribunal team appointed by the Supreme Court on Bansadhara water dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have begun inspection at Sara village under Kashipur block in Paralakhemundi of the district today.

According to sources, the team led by Justice Mukundam Sharma, who is also the Chairman of the tribunal team, visited the site.

The team which also includes Chief engineer of Water Resources department of Odisha, Akshay Banerjee had visited site at the Katragadda phase – II project area in Andhra Pradesh yesterday.

“The team had inspected the entire site but haven’t given any response. Andhra Pradesh should take their share of water without causing any problem to us,” said former engineer of Odisha water resources department Arun Padhi.

When the Andhra Pradesh government had proposed to divert the river water from Katragadda to Hiramandalam reservoir under Bansadhara Project-II some years ago, Odisha government had strongly opposed the move.