Sambalpur: Odisha government has requested a four-week extension from Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal to submit the common format information, amidst the ongoing conflict with the neighbouring state of Chhattisgarh.
According to a source, the request was made Tuesday during the initial hearing following the Tribunal’s recent field visit to Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
Odisha has sought extension for fulfilling the submission requirements, the source added.
Notably, Odisha’s request for an extension was granted by the Tribunal, allowing the state four additional weeks to complete the submission. Once the common format information is submitted, a meeting will be scheduled by the assessors. Following the submission, affidavits will be filed accordingly.
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The source informed that Chhattisgarh has already submitted 34 sets of common format information, whereas Odisha has filed eight. However, Odisha has not yet submitted the common format information due to a dispute regarding the inclusion of western catchment in Mahanadi basin.
Notably, the Tribunal recently conducted site inspections at around 30 locations in Odisha. Prior to that, they completed two phases of visits to Chhattisgarh from April 18 to May 3, 2023.
PNN
