Lok Sabha Question No. 1052 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-08
Subject: Construction of Dams on Mahanadi River
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 1052

ANSWERED ON 08.0 2.201 8

## CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS ON MAHANADI RIVER

## 1052. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Union Government has not constituted Inter - State Water Dispute Tribunal within a year as mandated by the Section 4 (1) of the Inter - State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 to resolve the disputes  pertaining  to  construction  of  dams  on  Mahanadi  river  between  the  State  Govern Odisha and Chhattisgarh;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the time by which su Tribunal is likely to be constituted;

(c)  whether  the  Government  of  Chhattisgarh  has  been  allowed  uninterruptedly  to  constru despite objections of the Government of Odisha during the last year and the current year;

(d) if so, the details thereof a nd the reasons therefor; and

(e) the corrective steps taken/being taken by the Union Government to resolve the said dis address the concerns of the Government of Odisha?

## ANSWER

## THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  WATER  RESOURCES, RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW

## AL )

(a) to (e)  State of Odisha submitted a complaint dated 19.11.2016 to the Central Gove Mahanadi River Water Dispute under Section 3 of the Inter State Rive r Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956. As per section 4 of the ISRWD Act 1956, this Ministry constituted a Negotiation C comprising of members from basin States and concerned Ministries of Central Government, Water Commission (CWC), India Metr ological Department (IMD), National Institute of Hydrolo (NIH)  for  resolution  of  Mahanadi  River  Water  Dispute  on  19.01.2017.  Two  meetings  o Negotiation Committee were held on 28.02.2017 and 22.05.2017. There was no participatio Government of O disha in meetings of the Negotiation Committee.

Government of Odisha also filed an Original Suit (No. 1 of 2017, State of Odisha vs Chhattisgarh & Ors.) in the Hon'ble Supreme Court and prayed to the Hon'ble Supreme Court for :

(i) restraing from continuing with the construction of six ongoing industrial barr namely, Samoda, Seorinarayan, Basantpur, Mirouni, Sardiha and Kalma, pending

constitution of  the  Tribunal  as  sought  in  the  complaint  dated  21.11.2016  fil Government  of  Odisha  for  resolution  of  water  disputes  in  respect  of  waters Mahanadi Basin;

- (ii) restraining from continuing with the construction and operation of 7 ongoing ects for  utilization  of  2.95  MAF  of  water  annually  viz.  Kelo,  Arpa - Bhaisajhar  Barrage, Sondhur,  Rajiv  Samodanisda  diversion  project  phase -II,  Mongra  Barrage,  Ph -II Sukhanalla Barrage and Ghumarya Nalla Barrage, pending constitution of the Tri as  sough t  in  the  complaint  dated  21.11.2016  filed  by  Government  of  Odisha resolution of water disputes in respect of waters of the Mahanadi Basin; and
- (iii) restraining  from  taking  up  any  projects  against  the  category  of  future mentioned  in  the  lett er  dated  27.8.2016  of  State  of  Chhattisgarh  in  annexure - 1, pending constitution of the Tribunal as sought in the complaint dated 21.11.2 by Government of Odisha for resolution of water disputes in respect of water Mahanadi Basin.

The matter came for hearing in Supreme Court on 10.4.2017, 25.4.2017, 2.5.2017, 25. 28.8.2017,  9.10.2017,  11.12.2017  and  23.01.2018.  The  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  has  concluded  the hearing on 23.01.2018 and disposed of the matter with the following order : -

'We,  therefore,  have  no  hesitation  in  directing  that  the  Central  Government  shall  issue appropriate  notification  in  the  Official  Gazette  and  constitute  a  Water  Disputes  Tr adjudication of the water dispute between the parties herein within a peri od of one month from today. Accordingly, the plaint in Original Suit No. 1 of 2017 is returned to the plaintiff for and adjudication by the Water Disputes Tribunal to be newly constituted by the Central Gov

We order accordingly.

With the aforesaid directions, the instant suit is disposed of as having returned t for its presentation to the Water Disputes Tribunal.

Needless to mention that the question of all reliefs as may be allowed to the pa open'.

Government  of  Odisha  has  to  raise  their  concerns  before  the  Water  Disputes  Trib directed by Hon'ble Supreme Court.

This Ministry has framed the proposal for formation of Mahanadi Water Dispute Trib per the direction of Hon'ble Supreme Court order dated 23.01.2018 .

*****