Odisha takes up Mahanadi issue with Centre

Odisha today approached the Centre for formation of a dispute tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi water dispute with Chhattisgarh, saying it was hopeful of a favourable ruling.

"The Odisha government has filed a complaint petition under Section 3 of the Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956. We have urged the Centre to form a dispute tribunal. Section 3 of the Act is important because it has a provision wherein one affected party or both can request the Government of India to set up a tribunal to settle the rights of the individual states," state Water Resources Secretary P K Jena told reporters here.
 

Stating that the state government was hopeful of getting favourable ruling, Jena said, "we have also requested the Union government to direct the Chhattisgarh government to stop work on the ongoing projects during the pendency of the petition".

Odisha's petition to the Centre has been annxed with detailed information in a 700-page document which contains all historical facts and data over the past 30-40 years.

"The document also highlights how the projects undertaken by Chhattisgarh will affect Odisha and why the state is harbouring apprehensions. Filing of the petition is a legal step and we are hopeful that the Centre will act expeditiously on the same. We have full faith that our case of Mahanadi is quite strong and we will get relief," he said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi today, has asked the Centre to issue direction to Chhattisgarh to stop further construction on Mahanadi and act expeditiously to protect the interest of Odisha.

The Opposition Congress, however, criticised the state government for "delaying" its approach for setting up a tribunal to resolve Mahanadi water dispute.

"We had been recommending to the state government to go for a tribunal. But, they delayed the process. We have to see their sincerity in taking up the matter," Congress leader Narasingha Mishra said.

BJP leader Prutiwiraj Harichandan said, "We had earlier advised the state government to hold discussions under the mediation of the Central government which will result in swift resolution of the matter".

"Going to tribunal could delay the process," he added.