The central government has extended the tenure of the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal by nine months till January 13 next year.
This move aims to resolve issues related to the sharing of river water between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
The Centre's decision was notified by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, providing much-needed time to complete the adjudication process.
Both states had urged the Centre to extend the tribunal's tenure due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the absence of a permanent chairperson for nine months.
The tribunal was constituted in 2018 after Odisha alleged that Chhattisgarh prevented the free flow of water in the downstream by setting up barrages in the upstream of the Mahanadi river.
Tribunal members have undertaken a field visit to the Mahanadi river-linked areas in both Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
