Bhubaneswar, 10 December (H.S.)The Odisha government has constituted a seven-member high-level committee under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo to examine all aspects of the Mahanadi water dispute and guide the state’s stance before the ongoing Tribunal proceedings.

The decision came following the direction of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi amid continuing legal and administrative developments related to the Mahanadi river.

According to information released by the state government, the committee includes Ministers Suresh Pujari, Prithviraj Harichandan and Sampad Chandra Swain, Government Chief Whip Saroj Kumar Pradhan, and MLAs Niranjan Pujari, Jaynarayan Mishra and Sofia Firdous.

Sources said the panel will review submissions made by the State, monitor follow-up actions, and advise on communications and future strategy pertaining to the dispute.

The Water Resources Department stated that the committee will scrutinize all issues connected to the Mahanadi dispute and provide policy-level guidance to the government.

The formation of the committee follows Odisha’s review of the ongoing legal proceedings before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal and the sensitivity of the matter. The body is expected to assess relevant documents, actions taken so far, and matters placed before the Tribunal.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda