Bhubaneswar: The Central government has extended the tenure of the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal by nine months till January 13 next year, providing much-needed time to resolve issues related to sharing of river water between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, an official said on Saturday.
He said the Jal Shakti Ministry informed the Center’s decision on Friday.
The court’s current term was supposed to end on April 13.
The decision was taken after the Odisha and Chhattisgarh governments submitted a joint request to the Center to ensure that the separation process is completed effectively, the official said.
The two countries urged the Center that there was a need to extend the tenure of the court, as no activity was being conducted due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the absence of a permanent chairman of the committee for nine months.
The senior official said, “This extension of the court’s term will help the authorities continue the hearings and prevent the committee’s term from ending without a final decision.”
The tribunal was constituted in 2018 after the Odisha government alleged that the neighboring state of Chhattisgarh had blocked the free flow of water downstream by constructing several barrages in the Mahanadi riverbed.
“The Central government has extended the period for submission of report and decision by the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal by nine months with effect from April 14, 2026, i.e. on or before January 13, 2027, or until the report is submitted…” the notification said.
The members of the court made a field visit to the areas connected to the Mahanadi River in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
While the legal aspects are being heard in court, the two state governments have also engaged in negotiations with the aim of resolving the disputes amicably, with several rounds of talks being held, another official said.
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