Odisha-Chhattisgarh water dispute: Centre forms Mahanadi Tribunal

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Centre today constituted a three-member Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal to sort out the ongoing water dispute between Odisha and neighbouring Chhattisgarh.

Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation today issued a notification regarding setting up of the tribunal under Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956.

As per the notification, the tribunal will be headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar as the Chairperson and Dr Justice Ravi Ranjan and Justice Indermeet Kaur Kochhar as the members.

The trio has been nominated by Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the dispute would be adjudicated at New Delhi.

Notably, the Supreme Court on January 23 this year had directed the Centre to constitute a tribunal to resolve the matter between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

As per provisions of the ISRWD Act, 1956 the Tribunal is required to submit its report and decision within a period of 3 years which can be extended to a further period not exceeding 2 years due to unavoidable reasons.

It is expected that with adjudication of dispute by the Tribunal, the long-pending dispute between States of Odisha and Chhattisgarh on Mahanadi river will come to a final settlement.