Mahanadi dispute: NGT pulls up Chhattisgarh govt

Bhubaneswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today pulled up the Chhattishgarh government while hearing a case relating to the latter undertaking projects on the upper catchment of the Mahanadi River thereby adversely affecting the water flow into Odisha.

The eastern bench of the NGT rapped the Chhattisgarh government for not appearing before the court and has also issued an ultimatum warning of ‘one-sided’ verdict if it does not appear before the court and furnish reply.

Similarly, the NGT has ordered the Odisha government to prepare a list of all projects approved by Chhattisgarh government in the past 5 years.

“The bench of the NGT has expressed their displeasure of lack of response from Chhattisgarh and have given another date on which if it does not find any satisfactory reply will take adverse steps,” said petitioner Sudarsan Mohapatra.