By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 13, 2016 : Odisha government will approach the Supreme Court by the end of this month on the Mahanadi water dispute with Chattisgarh.

Senior BJD Spokesperson Surya Narayan Patro on Sunday told media persons that the state Water Resources Department is in consultation with top lawyers and will file a case in the Supreme Court in the last of week of November.

The government’s move follows nearly two months after the tripartite meeting between the Center, Odisha Government and Chhattisgarh failed to resolve the Mahanadi water sharing dispute.

“The government has done due deliberation on all possible options to resolve the issue. As the Chief Minister said earlier, the Government will approach the court. Major preparatory work in this context has been completed. The case will be filed by the end of this month,” said Patro.

“As a priority, we will seek a stay order on the ongoing construction by Chhattisgarh Government on the upper catchment of Mahanadi. Besides, we will also seek formation of a tribunal to address the issue. Further, a case will also be filed in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) highlighting the adverse environmental effects of the Chhatisgarh projects in Odisha,” said another spokesperson of BJD Pratap Deb.

Reacting to the development, senior Odisha BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra welcomed the move and questioned the role of Union Government.

“As agreed in the tripartite meeting, the Union Water Resources Department should have formed an expert committee to study the issue. I fail to see why it has not been done so far. I hope the State Government will engage top lawyers and will work with sincerity to protect the interests of Odisha,” said Mohapatra.