**Executive Summary**
This notification from the Ministry of Jal Shakti extends the deadline for the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal to submit its report and decision. The extension is granted to account for a non-functional period caused by the resignation of the Tribunal’s Chairman and a subsequent lack of quorum. The new submission deadline is set for 13th January 2027, or the date of submission, whichever is earlier.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Tribunal Mandate and History**
* The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal was established on 12th March 2018 under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
* The Tribunal is tasked with the adjudication of water disputes concerning the inter-State river Mahanadi and its river valley.
* The original three-year deadline for submission was 11th March 2021, which was previously extended to 11th March 2023.
**Timeline Adjustments**
* The effective date of the Tribunal's constitution was finalized as 14th December 2019, based on the first regular hearing.
* A 16-month period from March 2020 to June 2021 was declared "non-functional" due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
* Following these adjustments, the submission period was previously extended to 13th April 2026.
**Current Extension Provisions**
* A further nine-month extension was requested due to the resignation of Chairman Mr. Justice A.M. Khanwilkar in March 2024.
* The period between the Chairman's resignation and the appointment of a successor was deemed non-functional due to a lack of quorum.
* The Central Government has officially extended the submission period by nine months, effective from 14th April 2026.
* The final deadline for the report and decision is now 13th January 2027.
**Impact Analysis**
**Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal**
**Impact**
The Tribunal is granted a legal extension to its operational mandate, allowing it to overcome delays caused by administrative vacancies and a lack of quorum.
**Action Required**
The Tribunal must complete its adjudication and submit its final report and decision to the Central Government on or before 13th January 2027.
**Central Government (Ministry of Jal Shakti)**
**Impact**
The Ministry exercises its powers under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, to formalize the extension and maintain oversight of the adjudication process.
**Action Required**
The Ministry must ensure the notification is implemented and monitor the Tribunal’s progress toward the new 2027 deadline.
Key Entities Referenced
Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal: The primary adjudicatory body constituted to resolve water disputes regarding the inter-State river Mahanadi and its river valley.
Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956: The governing legislation under which the tribunal was established and granted powers to adjudicate river water disputes.
Justice A.M. Khanwilkar: Former Chairman of the Tribunal whose resignation in March 2024 is cited as a reason for extending the tribunal's term due to a lack of quorum.
Mahanadi River: The central geographical entity and river system that defines the scope of the tribunal's jurisdiction and adjudication.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-11042026-271721
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-DLxx-ExG-I1D1E0x4x2x0 26-271721
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 1789] नई ददल्ली, िुक्रिार, अप्रलै 10, 2026/चत्रै 20, 1948
No. 1789] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2026/CHAITRA 20, 1948
िल िजत मत्रं ालय
(िल ससं ाधन)
(नदी जिकास और गगं ा सरं क्षण जिभाग)
अजधसचू ना
नई ददल्ली, 10 अप्रलै , 2026
का.आ. 1858(अ).— अंतरााजययक नदी िल जििाद अजधजनयम, 1956 (1956 का 33) (जिसे इसम ें इसके पश्चात
उक्त अजधजनयम कहा गया ह)ै की धारा 4 द्वारा प्रदत्त िजक्तयों का प्रयोग करते हुए भारत सरकार के िल संसाधन, नदी
जिकास और गगं ा संरक्षण मंत्रालय की अजधसूचना संख्या का. आ. 1114 (अ), तारीख 12 माच,ा 2018 द्वारा, 12 माच,ा
2018 को महानदी िल जििाद अजधकरण (जिसे इसम ें इसके पश्चात उक्त अजधकरण कहा गया ह)ै का गठन अतंरााययीय
महानदी और उसकी नदी घाटी स े संबंजधत िल जििादों के न्यायजनणायन के जलए दकया गया था;
और उक्त अजधकरण को उक्त अजधजनयम की धारा 5 की उपधारा (2) के अधीन यथा अपेजक्षत अपनी ररपोटा और
जिजनश्चय को तीन िर् ा के भीतर, अथाात, तारीख 11 माच ा 2021 को या उससे पूिा प्रस्ट्तुत करना अपेजक्षत था;
और अपररहाय ाकारणों स ेउक्त अजधकरण अपनी ररपोटा तीन िर्ा की उक्त अिजध म ें प्रस्ट्तुत नहीं कर सका;
2625 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
और उक्त अजधकरण द्वारा केंद्रीय सरकार स ेररपोटा और जिजनश्चय प्रस्ट्तुत करन े की अिजध को बढाने का अनुरोध
दकया था;
और केंद्रीय सरकार न,े अजधसूचना संख्या का.आ. 2176 (अ.), तारीख 3 िून, 2021 के माध्यम स ेउत अजधकरण
द्वारा उक्त अजधजनयम की धारा 5 के उप- धारा (2) के अधीन ररपोटा और जिजनश्चय को प्रस्ट्ततु दकए िान े की अिजध की दो
िर्ों अथाात 11 माच,ा 2023 तक या जनणाय और जिजनश्चय प्रस्ट्तुत दकए िान े तक, िो भी पूिातर हो, बढा ा़ ददया था;
और उक्त अजधकरण न ेकेंद्रीय सरकार स ेअनरु ोध दकया था दक सरकार उक्त अजधकरण द्वारा पहली जनयजमत सुनिाई
दकए िाने की तारीख अथाात 14 ददसंबर, 2019 पर जिचार करे िो उक्त अजधजनयम की धारा 5 की उप-धारा (2) के प्रयोिनों
के जलए अजधकरण की स्ट्थापना की प्रभािी तारीख ह;ै
और उक्त अजधकरण ने केंद्रीय सरकार स े कोजिड महामारी के कारण माच ा 2020 स े िनू 2021 तक की अिजध को
अजधकरण के जलए गैर-कायाात्मक और अलंकृत अिजध के रूपे म ें जिचार करन े का अनुरोध दकया था;
और केंद्रीय सरकार ने माननीय उच्चतम न्यायालय द्वारा इसी प्रकार के मामलों में ददए गए जनदिे ो को ध्यान में रखत े
हुए यह जिजनश्चय दकया था दक उत अजधकरण के गठन की प्रभािी तारीख 14 ददसंबर, 2019 होगी और उक्त अजधकरण के
जलए माच,ा 2020 स ेिून, 2021 (सोलह मास) की अिजध को अपररहाय ाकारणों स ेगैर-कायाात्मक और अलंकृत अिजध माना
िाएगा और तीन िर् ा की अिजध, िो उक्त अजधजनयम की धारा 5 की उप-धारा (2) के अधीन आबंरटत की गई ह,ै 13 अप्रलै ,
2024 को समाप्त हुई मानी िाएगी;
और केंद्रीय सरकार ने उक्त अजधजनयम की धारा 5 की उपधारा (2) के परंतुक के अधीन प्रदत्त िजक्तयों का प्रयोग
करते हुए महानदी िल जििाद अजधकरण द्वारा ररपोटा और जिजनश्चय प्रस्ट्ततु करन ेकी अिजध को 14 अप्रलै , 2024 स े दो िर्ा
की अिजध, अथाात् 13 अप्रलै , 2026 को या उससे पहले, या उक्त अजधजनयम की धारा 5 की उपधारा (2) के अधीन ररपोटा
और जिजनश्चय प्रस्ट्तुत दकए िान े तक, िो भी पूिातर हो, बढा ददया था;
और उक्त अजधकरण ने केंद्रीय सरकार स े अनरु ोध दकया ह ै दक माच ा 2024 म ें तत्कालीन अध्यक्ष न्यायमूर्ता ए.एम.
खानजिलकर के त्याग पत्र स ेलके र नए अध्यक्ष की जनयुजक्त तक की लगभग नौ मास की अिजध को गणपूर्ता की कमी के कारण
गैर-कायाात्मक माना िाए और ऐसी अिजध के जिस्ट्तार का भी अनुरोध दकया ह ैिो केंद्रीय सरकार उजचत समझे;
अतः अब, केंद्रीय सरकार उक्त अजधजनयम की धारा 5 की उपधारा (2) के परंतुक के अधीन प्रदत्त िजक्तयों का प्रयोग
करते हुए, महानदी िल जििाद अजधकरण द्वारा ररपोटा और जिजनश्चय प्रस्ट्ततु करन े की अिजध को 14 अप्रलै , 2026 स े नौ
मास की अिजध, अथाात ् 13 िनिरी, 2027 को या उसस े पहल,े या उक्त अजधजनयम की धारा 5 की उपधारा (2) के अधीन
ररपोटा और जिजनश्चय प्रस्ट्ततु दकए िाने तक, िो भी पूिातर हो, बढाती ह।ै
[फा. स.ं एन-70012/1/2021-बीएम अनुभाग-एमओडब्लल्यआू र]
प्रदीप कुमार अग्रिाल, संयु त सजचि[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
(Department of water resources)
(RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 10th April, 2026
S.O. 1858(E).— Whereas, the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (hereinafter referred to as the said Tribunal)
was constituted on the 12th March, 2018 vide notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Water
Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation number S.O. 1114(E), dated the 12th March, 2018, in exercise
of the powers conferred by section 4 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (33 of 1956) (hereinafter referred
to as the said Act), for the adjudication of water disputes regarding inter-State river Mahanadi and river valley thereof;
And whereas, the said Tribunal was required to submit its report and decision as required under sub-section (2)
of section 5 of the said Act within a period of three years, that is, on or before the 11th March, 2021;
And whereas, due to unavoidable reasons, the said Tribunal could not submit its report within the said period
of three years;
And whereas, the said Tribunal requested the Central Government to extend the said period for submission of
report and decision thereon;
And whereas, the Central Government vide notification number S.O. 2176 (E), dated the 3rd June, 2021,
extended the period for submission of report and decision thereon by the said Tribunal for a period of two years upto
the 11th March, 2023 or till the submission of report and decision under sub-section (2) of section 5 of the said Act,
whichever is earlier;
And whereas, the said Tribunal requested the Central Government to consider the date of holding the first
regular hearing by the said Tribunal, that is, the 14th December, 2019 as the effective date of setting up of the Tribunal
for the purposes of sub-section (2) of section 5 of the said Act;
And whereas, the said Tribunal also requested the Central Government to consider the period from March 2020
to June 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic, as non-functioning and embellishing period for the Tribunal;
And whereas, the Central Government, having regard to the direction given by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in
similar matters, decided that the effective date of constitution of the said Tribunal shall be the 14th December, 2019 and
period from March, 2020 to June, 2021 (sixteen months) shall be treated as non- functional and embellishing period for
the said Tribunal due to unavoidable reasons and the three-year period which was allocated under sub-section (2) of
section 5 of the said Act is deemed to expire on 13th April, 2024;
And whereas, in exercise of the powers conferred under the proviso to sub- section (2) of the section 5 of said
Act, the Central Government extended the period of submission of report and decision by the Mahanadi Water Disputes
Tribunal for a period of two years with effect from the 14th April, 2024, that is, on or before the 13th April, 2026, or till
the submission of report and decision under sub-section (2) of section 5 of the said Act, whichever is earlier;
And whereas, the said Tribunal has also requested the Central Government to consider the period of nine
months, consequent upon the resignation of the then Chairman Mr. Justice A.M. Khanwilkar in March, 2024 till the
appointment of new Chairperson, as non-functional due to the lack of quorum and requested for extension of time as
may deemed appropriate by the Central Government;
Now, therefore, in exercise of powers conferred by the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 5 of the said Act,
the Central Government hereby extends the period of submission of report and decision by Mahanadi Water Disputes
Tribunal for a period of nine months with effect from the 14th April, 2026, that is, on or before the 13th January, 2027,
or till the submission of report and decision under sub-section(2) of section 5 of the said Act, whichever is earlier.
[F. No. N-70012/1/2021-BM Section-MOWR]
PRADEEP KUMAR AGRAWAL, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.