Bhubaneswar, June 24 -- A political controversy has broken out in Odisha after reports surfaced of Rs 2.41 crore being spent from the state exchequer for the visit of members of the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal between February 26 and March 2, 2026.

Sudarsan Das, who serves as the convenor of the tribunal, has raised serious concerns over the expenditure and said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, also the state's Water Resources Minister, must clarify the matter before the public.

Based on RTI information, Das pointed out that Rs 1.45 crore was spent on the tribunal's tour of the upper catchment areas of the Mahanadi in Odisha. Another Rs 95.58 lakh was reportedly used for visits to regions including Puri, Chilika and other coastal...