SC defers hearing of Mahanadi case to Oct 9 as Centre seeks 4 more weeks

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today deferred the hearing of Odisha’s petition on Mahanadi dispute to October 9 as the Centre sought four more weeks to present data on formation of a special tribunal to adjudicate the case.

The Centre had earlier sought time twice from the apex court to prepare draft with necessary documents for the tribunal.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice S A Bobde and Justice L. Nageswara Rao was scheduled to hear the case on the inter-state water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Earlier, on July 25 both States and the Centre had presented their views before the court.

Through the petition, Odisha has sought the Apex court’s intervention to direct the neighbouring State to stop project works in the upstream of Mahanadi and direct the Centre to form a tribunal to adjudicate the matter.

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Odisha has been demanding formation of a tribunal since long. It has been arguing that Chhattisgarh has raised concerns for Odisha by constructing dams upstream, affecting the flow of Mahanadi river.