Supreme Court Directs Formation of Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal
March 2024
The Supreme Court's direction to constitute the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal following Odisha's complaint against Chhattisgarh highlights the continuing relevance of Article 262 and the Inter-State Water Disputes Act. This case demonstrates how upstream development projects can create new water sharing conflicts and the role of the Central government in tribunal constitution. The dispute involves questions of environmental impact, downstream rights, and the balance between development and water security.
UPSC Angle: Expect questions on tribunal constitution procedures, the role of environmental considerations in water disputes, and the relationship between development projects and inter-state water rights. This case may appear in both Prelims (factual questions about tribunal composition) and Mains (analytical questions about water dispute resolution effectiveness).