Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal Completes Five-Day Visit to Odisha Amid Ongoing Dispute

The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT), led by Justice Bela M Trivedi, completed a five-day visit to Odisha, inspecting sites including Hirakud Dam, Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Satkosia, and Chilika Lake. Accompanied by state officials, the tribunal aims to assess water-sharing issues amid disputes with Chhattisgarh. The Mahanadi Bachao Andolan protested, criticizing the visit as unproductive and demanding interim relief for Odisha during non-monsoon periods. Both states have requested a nine-month extension of the tribunal's tenure, pending central government approval.