It is time we invest in right, credible and institutionalised practices for enabling inter-State mediation, coordination and cooperation. Political rationalitiesTo be clear, there is little doubt about substantive reasons for contention over the Mahanadi between Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The challenge thus is securing credibility of mediation practices — of institutionalising neutrality and objectivity. Inter-State river waters governance is a classic case of collision between Central and State powers. For example, the mediation practices may be structured under the Inter-State Council, provided by the Constitution for the exclusive purpose of inter-State coordination.

Source: The Hindu January 31, 2018 19:30 UTC