India, Sept. 6 -- The nine-year deadlock over sharing waters of Mahanadi river between Odisha and Chhatisgarh moved a little closer towards resolution on Saturday, with the Mahanadi River Water Disputes Tribunal deferring substantive arguments and urging both Odisha and Chhattisgarh to use the "next few weeks" to build on new political outreach.

Hearing the matter in New Delhi, the three-member Tribunal headed by Justice Bela M. Trivedi recorded the recent exchange of letters between the two chief ministers and noted "statements at the Bar from senior counsel of both States" that an amicable settlement was under active consideration. The bench fixed October 11 as the next date of hearing and directed the Water Resources Secretaries of bo...