Mahanadi Water Disputes

The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal gives Odisha and Chhattisgarh a final opportunity to reach an amicable settlement. The continuing inter-state dispute over sharing of Mahanadi river water.

Mahanadi River Dispute:

Dimension	Key Details
River Type	Mahanadi is the third largest east-flowing peninsular river of India after Godavari and Krishna.
Origin	Mahanadi originates in the Sihawa hills of Dhamtari district in Chhattisgarh.
Course	Mahanadi flows through Chhattisgarh and Odisha and drains into the Bay of Bengal.
Length	Mahanadi has a total course of approximately 851 km to 900 km.
Catchment Area	The catchment area of Mahanadi is 1,41,600 sq km, with 53.9% in Chhattisgarh and 45.73% in Odisha.
Other Catchment States	Small portions of the Mahanadi catchment lie in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand.
Major Tributaries	Major tributaries comprise Seonath, Hasdeo, Mand, Ib, Ong, Jonk, and Tel.
Longest Tributary	Seonath is the longest tributary of Mahanadi.
Key Dam	Hirakud Dam in Odisha is one of the longest earthen dams in the world.
Dispute	The dispute is a long-standing conflict since 2016 between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over sharing of Mahanadi river water.
Odisha’s Stand	Odisha argues that Chhattisgarh’s unilateral construction of at least 8 barrages reduces downstream flow and affects agriculture, fisheries, and power generation.
Chhattisgarh’s Stand	Chhattisgarh claims the right to utilise water as an upper riparian state with a larger catchment and alleges that Odisha initiated projects without consultation.
Riparian States	An upper riparian state is where the river originates or flows first, while a lower riparian state receives the river’s flow downstream.
1983 Agreement	The 1983 Agreement between Odisha and undivided Madhya Pradesh provides for joint supervision according to Chhattisgarh.
Joint Control Board	Chhattisgarh has proposed a Joint Control Board, while Odisha has preferred the tribunal route.
Tribunal Formation	The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal has been constituted in 2018 following Supreme Court directives.
Article 262	Article 262 provides for adjudication of inter-state river disputes and authorises Parliament to set up tribunals under the 1956 Act.
Inter-State River Water Disputes Act	The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 provides for separate tribunals for each dispute.
2019 Amendment	The 2019 Amendment provides for a single standalone tribunal with multiple benches and strict timelines for awards.
Article 131	Article 131 defines the Supreme Court’s exclusive original jurisdiction over legal disputes between the Government of India and States or between States.