BHUBANESWAR: The Centre has extended the tenure of Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal till January 13, 2027, providing additional time for hearings, technical evaluations and efforts toward an amicable resolution of the long-standing river dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
The Jal Shakti ministry through a gazette notification on Friday extended the tenure of the tribunal, which was set to end on April 14, by another nine months following requests from the two states.
Advocate General of Odisha Pitambar Acharya along with principal secretary of Water Resources department Shubha Sarma appeared before the tribunal on Saturday. Acharya told mediapersons that the next hearing is scheduled for April 20.
He indicated that a high-level meeting between the chief ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh under the mediation of the central government is likely soon. Expressing satisfaction over the progress of negotiations so far, Acharya said, “As many as 13 meetings have been held between technical teams and administrative-level officials of both states since August 2025. These discussions, involving chief secretaries and secretaries, have focused on assessing water flow data and addressing key areas of concern.”
He informed that the tribunal has been urged to incorporate the recordings and findings from its field visits in the hearing process.
These include observations related to key projects and river stretches, notably the IB and Tel river, which are central to the dispute. He further said that both states are now actively engaging not only through legal channels but also through structured bilateral discussions.
Welcoming the extension of the tribunal’s tenure, Law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said it would provide the necessary time to pursue both legal and out-of-court settlement avenues. He noted that the tribunal is increasingly focusing on facilitating an amicable solution, alongside continuing formal adjudication.
Expressing optimism, the minister said that with sustained dialogue, technical consultations and the Centre’s possible intervention, there is growing confidence that the long-pending dispute can finally be resolved.