Political storm over huge expenditure on Mahanadi tribunal’s Odisha visit

A fresh political controversy has erupted in Odisha over the huge expenditure incurred during the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal’s visit to the state, putting the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) once again under scrutiny over its handling of the long-pending water-sharing dispute.

According to official documents, the then BJD-led state government approved an expenditure of Rs 5.05 crore for the tribunal’s 10-day visit to Odisha in May 2023. The scale of spending has raised serious questions about the use of public funds, especially as the Mahanadi water dispute remains unresolved.

The issue has resurfaced nearly two-and-a-half years later, after the bills related to the visit were cleared under the new government, intensifying political reactions. Opposition parties and activists have questioned why such a large amount was spent on hospitality and logistical arrangements for a short-duration visit and have demanded an investigation into the matter.

"As per the government details, Rs 5.05 crore was spent at that time for the tribunal’s visit to resolve the Mahanadi dispute. The money has been spent from the state exchequer. But, what is its utility?" asked Congress MLA Ashok Das.

"The BJP and Nitin Gadkari had earlier stated in Parliament that resolving the Mahanadi dispute through a tribunal would be a lengthy and costly process. Despite these warnings, the then Odisha government opted for the tribunal route. However, even after all this time, no concrete solution has been achieved," said BJP leader Biranchi Narayan Tripathy.

"If anything has been spent illegally, the government should recover it," said senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra.

As per details available, the tribunal toured both Chhattisgarh and Odisha from May 19 to May 28, 2023. The team, led by then chairman retired Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, comprised two members, nine experts and officials, along with lawyers and officials from both the states, taking the total strength to around 32-35 members.

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During the Odisha leg of the visit, the tribunal conducted field inspections at multiple locations, including Jharsuguda, Hirakud Dam, Chipilima, Ib Thermal Power Station, Sundargarh, the Upper Jonk project in Nuapada, Satkosia, Naraj, Mundali Barrage, the Mahanadi basin, Chilika and Puri.

The expenditure details show that around Rs 1.85 crore was spent on accommodation and food, nearly Rs 1.87 crore on tents and temporary infrastructure at inspection sites, and about Rs 1.33 crore on transportation and logistics.

Critics allege that public money was spent extravagantly without adequate justification. Leaders of the Mahanadi Bachao Andolan have called for a thorough probe into the spending pattern.

"Crores of rupees have been spent from the state exchequer. However, no solution has been found so far. An investigation into the expenditure should be conducted as it is taxpayers’ money," said a member of Mahanadi Bachao Andolan.

The controversy has further embarrassed the BJD, which had earlier faced criticism for spending around Rs 33 crore on legal fees in the Supreme Court in connection with the Mahanadi dispute. The latest revelations have added fuel to the political debate, with all the political parties demanding accountability over the expenditure of taxpayers’ money.