Overview

• The tribunal deferred substantive arguments for the next few weeks after taking on record letters exchanged by the two chief ministers and noting that a settlement is under active consideration.
• It directed the Water Resources Secretaries of both states to appear at the next hearing on October 11 and brief the bench on the status of negotiations.
• Odisha’s advocate general said the approach has shifted toward political dialogue with regular technical engagement, while about 40 core issues on flows, storages and barrages still need resolution.
• Odisha proposed a joint committee led by the Central Water Commission under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, and Chhattisgarh told the tribunal that the proposal is being actively examined.
• Advocate General Pitambar Acharya told reporters that the Central Water Commission will not clear fresh projects on the river until the dispute is settled.