post news network
New Delhi, Sept 25: The Mahanadi River Water Dispute Tribunal has postponed the maiden hearing in the long standing dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over the sharing of Mahanadi water to October 13.
A lawyer associated with the case said, “The Tribunal had issued notice to all the parties regarding the postponement of the date of hearing. However, no reason was cited behind the postponement.”
Earlier, the hearing was scheduled for September 29. The registrar of the Tribunal had sent notices to the lawyers of Odisha and Maharashtra and Chief Secretaries of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand to appear before it September 29.
Notably, the Centre had constituted the Mahanadi Water Dispute Tribunal March 12 following the Supreme Court order dated January 23 on a suit filed by Odisha.
The state government had sought to refer the water dispute regarding the inter-state river Mahanadi and its valley to a Tribunal for adjudication under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
The dispute arose between Odisha and Chhattisgarh due to the construction of dams by the later. The state government alleged that the planned utilisation of Mahanadi water in excess of its share by Chhattisgarh will harm the interests of Odisha, particularly the farmers who are dependent on Mahanadi waters.