New Delhi: Ahead of the second visit of Mahanadi tribunal, Chhattisgarh has opened 17 gates of Kalama barrage, thereby releasing around 1,600 cusecs of Mahanadi water to Odisha.
According to sources, Chhattisgarh’s move is an outcome of events that transpired during the first visit of Mahanadi Tribunal in the upper riparian state from April 19 to 22.
During the first visit, the tribunal inspected projects in upper Mahanadi sub-basin and Shivnath sub-basin in Chhattisgarh. The tribunal reportedly saw presence of sufficient water, nearly 70 percent of the full live capacity, in Chhattisgarh’s projects at the end of the season.
Odisha argued that this illegally stored water in Chhattisgarh belongs to Odisha since this year the upper riparian state has ensured only 0.70 MAF at Hirakud against 2 MAF, sources said.
Significantly, the tribunal will have the second visit of the lower Mahanadi sub-basin in Chhattisgarh from April 29 to May 3, during which it will visit various projects in Chhattisgarh namely Hasdeo Bango Dam, Sheonarain Barrage and Kalma barrage, etc.
The tribunal will inspect projects which have been opposed by the Odisha government in its petition. April 30, the tribunal will visit Junk and upper Mahanadi main basin, Ballar reservoir, Kashdal and Sheonarain barrage.
Arpa Bhainsajhar, Hasdeo Bango and Dari barrage will be covered on the next day. May 2, Hasdeo and upper Mahanadi main basin, Basantpur barrage, Mironi barrage, Kalama barrage and Surajgarh bridge will be covered.
On the last day of the second phase, the Tribunal will visit Kelo barrage. Earlier, a three-member committee of the tribunal comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar, Ravi Ranjan and Indermeet Kaur Kochar, the assessors and the registrar of the tribunal along with the teams of Odisha and Chhattisgarh visited Farsiya village, origin point of Mahanadi, and nearby areas in Sihawa. The tribunal also visited Sondur, Murumsili dam, and Ravi Shankar Sagar reservoir among others, sources said.
PNN
