The tribunal constituted by the Supreme Court to resolve the dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh on sharing water of the Bansadhara river has fixed August 7 for next hearing.
last week, during a two-day hearing, the State Government counsel Raju Ramachandran had presented before the tribunal that the stay order given by the Supreme Court in 2009 was right as the project would submerge around 30 villages in Gajapati district, besides causing severe water scarcity in Rayagada and Gajapati districts. The Andhra Pradesh Government counsel CS Baidana defended that the stay order of the Supreme Court was not based on fact. Hence, the stay order should be vacated soon in order to ensure smooth irrigation in the area. The tribunal heard the presentations of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh Governments and set August 7 for next hearing.