Mahanadi tribunal gives last opportunity to Odisha, Chhattisgarh to settle river water dispute

The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) gave Odisha and Chhattisgarh a final opportunity to settle their long-standing river water dispute amicably befor...

What Happened

The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) gave Odisha and Chhattisgarh a final opportunity to settle their long-standing river water dispute amicably before its tenure expires.
The Tribunal observed that despite the formation of Joint Technical Committees and repeated directives, no concrete proposal for settlement on any of the disputed issues had been placed on record by either state.
The MWDT had conducted site visits to both states (Odisha: February 26 to March 2, 2026; Chhattisgarh: March 7–11, 2026) ahead of the April 2026 deadline, describing them as "quite fruitful and educative."
Both states had jointly applied to the Ministry of Jal Shakti for an extension of the Tribunal's tenure, with the Ministry's response still awaited as of the hearing.

Static Topic Bridges

Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 and Article 262

The Constitution of India, under Article 262, empowers Parliament to provide by law for the adjudication of disputes relating to the use, distribution, or control of waters of any inter-state river or river valley. Parliament may also bar the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court or any other court in such matters. Pursuant to this, the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 was enacted. Under this Act, when a state government makes a complaint that its water interests have been or are likely to be affected by another state, the Central Government may constitute a Water Disputes Tribunal for adjudication of the dispute.

Article 262 of the Constitution: Parliament can legislate on inter-state river disputes and exclude Supreme Court jurisdiction
Tribunals under the Act consist of a Chairman and two members nominated by the Chief Justice of India from judges of the Supreme Court or High Courts
Two assessors (water resources experts) assist the Tribunal
Tribunal awards, once notified by the Central Government in the Gazette, are binding on the states concerned and have the same force as a Supreme Court decree

Connection to this news: The MWDT was constituted in March 2018 under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, following a complaint by Odisha that upstream projects in Chhattisgarh were reducing water flow into the Hirakud reservoir. The Tribunal's push for amicable settlement reflects the Act's preference for consensual resolution before adjudication.

Past Inter-State Water Tribunals and Their Awards

India has constituted multiple water dispute tribunals since independence, each covering major river systems. Three tribunal awards have been formally notified in the Gazette by the Central Government — for the Krishna, Godavari, and Narmada rivers. The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal was constituted in 1990 and its award was notified in 2013. The resolution process has historically been slow: the Narmada Tribunal took nine years, the Krishna Tribunal four years, and the Godavari Tribunal ten years from the date of reference to final award.

Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal: constituted April 10, 1969; final verdict submitted May 27, 1976
Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal: final report submitted July 7, 1980
Cauvery award notified: February 20, 2013; allocates 192 tmcft per year to Tamil Nadu from Karnataka
Narmada dispute involved Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan

Connection to this news: The MWDT, constituted in 2018, is yet to submit its final report and decision. The Tribunal's pressure on both states to settle reflects the pattern across Indian water tribunals where adjudication takes years; an amicable settlement would be significantly faster and less adversarial.

Mahanadi River — Physical Geography

The Mahanadi is a major peninsular river originating in the Chhattisgarh plains and flowing eastward through Odisha before draining into the Bay of Bengal. Its total length is approximately 900 km, of which 357 km lies in Chhattisgarh and 494 km in Odisha. The basin spans approximately 1,32,100 sq km and includes small portions of Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The Hirakud Dam, located in Odisha, is one of the longest earthen dams in the world and is the key infrastructure at the heart of the water dispute.

Total length: approximately 900 km; drains into Bay of Bengal near Paradip
Hirakud Dam: construction began 1948; became fully operational by 1990
Tributaries include Seonath, Ib, Mand, and Hasdeo (most major tributaries rise in Chhattisgarh)
Basin states: Chhattisgarh (upper riparian), Odisha (lower riparian), with small portions in Jharkhand, MP, and Maharashtra

Connection to this news: Odisha has alleged since 2016 that upstream barrages and dams constructed by Chhattisgarh on tributaries have reduced water flow into the Hirakud reservoir, adversely affecting irrigation, drinking water, and ecology in lower Odisha. This upstream-downstream dynamic is the core of the MWDT dispute.

Key Facts & Data

MWDT constituted: March 2018, under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956
Constitutional basis: Article 262 of the Constitution of India
Dispute raised by: Odisha (complaint that Chhattisgarh's upstream projects reduce downstream flows)
Mahanadi basin area: approximately 1,32,100 sq km across 5 states
River length: ~900 km total; 357 km in Chhattisgarh, 494 km in Odisha
Site visits conducted: Odisha (Feb 26 – Mar 2, 2026) and Chhattisgarh (Mar 7–11, 2026)
MWDT tenure extension application forwarded to Ministry of Jal Shakti: February 9, 2026
The MWDT is yet to submit its final Report and Decision