Bhubaneswar, June 27: The tribunal hearing the long-standing Mahanadi water-sharing dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh on Saturday reviewed the progress made by both states in resolving key issues, with the next hearing scheduled for July 11.

Officials said the two neighbouring states have reached consensus on several contentious matters following multiple rounds of discussions. During the hearing, the tribunal assessed the status of unresolved issues, particularly those related to water allocation, storage capacity and the overall water requirements of both states.

Before the next round of proceedings, a meeting at the level of chief secretaries will be held to further bridge the remaining differences. The technical committee constituted to assist in resolving the dispute has already conducted 20 meetings, focusing on reconciling data related to water storage, utilisation and future demand.

The tribunal is expected to play a crucial role in facilitating a mutually acceptable and consensus-based settlement of the dispute.

Odisha was represented by Advocate General Pitambar Acharya, while Chhattisgarh's Advocate General Vivek Sharma appeared for the neighbouring state.

Speaking after the hearing, Acharya said that seven rounds of discussions had resulted in agreement on several issues. He added that the most significant concerns, including water sharing, assessment of water requirements and storage data, are gradually being reconciled through dialogue, paving the way for an amicable resolution.

Powered by Froala Editor