The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for adjudication of dispute on Mahanadi River waters.
The Tribunal shall determine water sharing among basin States on the basis of the overall availability of water in the complete Mahanadi basin, contribution of each State, the present utilization of water resources in each State and the potential for future development.
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, it informed.
As per provisions of the Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956, the Tribunal shall consist of a Chairman and two other Members nominated by the Chief Justice of India from amongst the Judges of the Supreme Court or High Court. Further, services of two Assessors who are water resources experts having experience in handling sensitive water-related issues will be provided to advise the Tribunal in its proceedings.
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.
Notably, the Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in January last year had also constituted a ‘Negotiations Committee’ earler to assess availability and utilisation of waters of Mahanadi and its tributaries, .
The Committee as per the Central Government was to examine existing water sharing agreements on river Mahanadi and to consider claims of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Jharkhand regarding availability and utilisation of waters of these rivers.
The Committee was set up with reference to complaint of State of Odisha under section 3 of the ISRWD Act, 1956 regarding utilisation of waters of Mahandi Basin.
The committee was decided to be chaired by Member (WP&P), Central Water Commission and will have 11 other members comprising representatives from the States of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, Union Ministries of Agriculture, Environment Forest and Climate Change, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, India meteorological Department and Central Water Commission. The Committee was asked to submit its report within three months.
Notably, It may also be recalled that the Central Water Commission (CWC) under Union Ministry of Water Resources in August 2016 had informed that it has two major projects in Chhattisgarh portion of Mahanadi basin at appraisal stage with it; out of which one project --Arpa Bhaisajhar Project is a 'Barrage Project', the Central government had informed.
Notably, the CWC’s River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation carries out techno-economic appraisal of major and medium irrigation projects (Command Area more than 2000 hectares) which are planned on Inter-State river / river basins, it had informed.
Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Arpa Bhaisajhar Project was sent by Government of Chhattisgarh to Government of Odisha vide letter dated July 28, 2015, it informed.
The Government of Odisha sent its views to Government of Chhattisgarh vide their letter dated April 26, 2016. The DPR of Arpa Bhaisajhar Project is under appraisal in CWC, it had stated in 2015.
An Inter-State Meeting was held on July 29 , 2016 under the Chairmanship of Officer on Special Duty, Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation to consider the various water resources issues/projects in Mahanadi Basin, it had informed.