Mahanadi water sharing dispute: Tribunal team to conduct field assessment in Odisha today

A three-member bench of the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal arrived in Odisha to conduct a field assessment of key river infrastructure and water utilisation issues linked to the long-standing inter-state dispute.

The team, led by newly appointed Chairperson Justice Bela M. Trivedi, arrived in the state on Thursday. The visit is being viewed as a crucial development in the long-pending inter-state river water dispute.

Key Sites Under Review

The tribunal members are scheduled to inspect major river infrastructure, including the Hirakud Dam. The inspection will cover the right spillway, the power house, and the command area associated with the dam. The team will also assess the ground situation at the Chipilima Power House.

Sources said the inspection will focus on evaluating the volume of water reaching Hirakud during the non-monsoon season and examining how the water is being utilised for industrial and drinking purposes. Issues linked to river-linking projects are also expected to be reviewed, as these have been raised during earlier tribunal proceedings.

Broader Context of the Dispute

The Mahanadi water-sharing dispute has remained a contentious issue between Odisha and Chhattisgarh for several years, with both states presenting differing claims regarding water availability and usage.

With the BJP currently in power at the Centre and in both states, there is speculation in political circles that a mutually acceptable resolution may be possible. However, Odisha’s Advocate General Pitambar Acharya has made it clear that the state’s interests will not be compromised.

“Whatever is being done is aimed at safeguarding the interests of the people of Odisha. The long-standing dispute will be resolved,” Acharya said.

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During their visit, the tribunal members are also scheduled to visit the Maa Samaleswari Temple.

The outcome of the field assessment is expected to play an important role in shaping the tribunal’s final decision on the sharing of Mahanadi waters between the two states.