Members of Mahanadi Bachao Andolan protest in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar: A delegation from Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal, led by chairperson Justice Bela M Trivedi, began a five-day visit of Odisha on Thursday to conduct on-ground assessments at various locations along the river.Odisha advocate general Pitambar Acharya, who accompanied the team in Jharsuguda, said, “Whatever is being done is in the interest of Odisha. The issue will be resolved by protecting the state’s interests.”According to sources, the tribunal — tasked with adjudicating the Odisha-Chhattisgarh dispute over Mahanadi water sharing — will inspect multiple sites along the river and coastal stretch to review ground conditions.Meanwhile, members of the Mahanadi Bachao Andolan (MBA) staged protest in Bhubaneswar, criticising what they termed a “luxurious and expensive tour” of tribunal members accompanied by family members. The outfit alleged that during the tribunal’s previous visit in 2023, the Odisha govt had spent Rs 5 crore, and with the tribunal’s tenure ending next April, it opposed “another extravagant trip.”
