New Delhi: Chhattisgarh government Monday rejected Odisha government’s claim to seek interim relief from Mahanadi Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT) saying the latter has failed to show any substantial injury due to construction of barrages.
Chhattisgarh filed its response to Odisha’s interlocutory application seeking a stay on projects over Mahanadi river basin in the Tribunal Monday.
In its response, the Chhattisgarh government said that the construction of six industrial barrages will not interfere with the natural and continuous inflow of water into Hirakud dam.
Chhattisgarh also alleged in its response that the interim relief application filed by Odisha is based on unreliable data. The application is without scientific study.
It also said that Inter-State River Water Dispute Act 1956 does not make any provision empowering the Tribunal to grant any interim relief.
Notably, the MWDT had October 13 issued notices to Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand to file their responses to the interim relief application filed by Odisha government seeking a stay on projects over Mahanadi River by December 1.
The Odisha government would file its rejoinder by December 14 and the Tribunal will hear the matter December 15.
Significantly, Odisha had filed the application in the tribunal seeking stay on the construction of barrages and ensuring minimum flow of Mahanadi water during non-monsoon months.
In the plea, the state government had also pleaded with the Tribunal to pass an interim order to Chhattisgarh to ensure 1.74 million acre feet (MAF) minimum flow of Mahanadi water during the non-monsoon months, from November to May. The state also sought directions to Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra to not utilise more than 10.83 MAF of water in its Mahanadi Basin.
The state government had requested the Tribunal to restrain Chhattisgarh from construction and operation of barrages namely Kalma, Saradihi, Mironi etc so that the free flow of the main river Mahanadi would not be obstructed.