Lok Sabha Question No. 4538 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-22
Subject: Construction of Dams on Mahanadi River
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 4538

ANSWERED ON 22.0 3.201 8

## CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS ON MAHANADI RIVER

## 4538. DR. PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA RE JUVENATION be pleased to state

(a) whether the construction of multiple dams in the upstreams of Mahanadi basin in Chhatt adversely affected the flow of water in the down streams of Odisha;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether irrigation problems have arisen as a result of the same; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken to resolve the issue?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a) to (d) Government of Odisha submitted a complaint dated 19.11.2016 to the Union Govern Mahanadi River Water Dispute under Section 3 of the Inter - State Ri ver Water Dispute (ISRWD) Act, 1956.  In the complaint Government of Odisha, inter - lia, raised the issue of likely effect of fl downstream due to construction of projects upstream by Government of Chhattisgarh.

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

- '(i) restraining  from  continuing  with  the  construction  of  six  ongoing  industrial  b , namely,  Samoda,  Seorinarayan,  Basantpur,  Mirouni,  Sardiha  and  Kalma,  pending constitution  of  the  Tribunal  as  sought  in  the  complaint  dated  21.11.2016  fi Government  of  Odisha  for  resolution  of  water  disputes  in  respect  of  waters Mahanadi Basi n;
- (ii) restraining from continuing with the construction and operation of 7 ongoing proj utilization of 2.95 MAF of water annually viz. Kelo, Arpa - Bhaisajhar Barrage, Sondhur, Rajiv Samodanisda diversion project phase -II, Mongra Barrage, Ph -II S ukhanalla Barrage and  Ghumarya  Nalla  Barrage,  pending  constitution  of  the  Tribunal  as  sought  in complaint dated 21.11.2016 filed by Government of Odisha for resolution of water di in respect of waters of the Mahanadi Basin; and

- (iii) restraining from taking up any projects against the category of future projects men the letter dated 27.8.2016 of State of Chhattisgarh in annexure P - 1, pending constitution of the Tribunal as sought in the complaint dated 21.11.2016 filed by Government of Odisha for resolution of water disputes in respect of waters of the Mahanadi Basin'.

The Hon'ble Supreme Court concluded the hearing on 23.01.2018 and passed final order as follows:

'We,  therefore,  have  no  hesitation  in directing that the  Central  Government  shall  issue appropriate  notification  in  the  Official  Gazette  and  constitute  a  Water  Disputes  Tri adjudication of the water dispute between the parties herein within a period of one mo today. Accordingly, the plaint i n Original Suit No. 1 of 2017 is returned to the plaintiff presentation  and  adjudication  by  the  Water  Disputes  Tribunal  to  be  newly  constituted Central Government'.

As per the above Supreme Court Order, Odisha has to present its plaint fo r adjudication to the Mahanadi River Water Dispute Tribunal.

Union Government has constituted Mahanadi River Water Dispute Tribunal vide Gazet Notification dated 12.3.2018

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