By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti & Social Justice and Empowerment, Rattan Lal Kataria in a written reply in Rajya Sabha said that the Central Government has constituted Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal on 12.03.2018 under Section 4 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (as amended) for adjudication of water dispute regarding the inter-state river Mahanadi. The Tribal will hear the matter again on October 3.
Provided that if the decision cannot be given for unavoidable reason, within a period of three years, the Central Government may extend the period for a further period not exceeding two years”.At present the dispute is under adjudication in the Tribunal under Section 5 (2) of Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (as amended).
As per Section 5(2) of Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (as amended) “The Tribunal shall investigate the matters referred to it and forward to the Central Government a report setting out the facts as found by it and giving its decision on the matters referred to it within a period of three years (emphasis added).
Thereafter, under Section 5(3) of the said Act, the Central Government/State Government(s) may again refer the matter to the Tribunal for further consideration, which may then give its further report within one year, with the option to extend for such further period as Central Government considers necessary.
