Controversy over Odisha tour expenses
Bhubaneswar: The Mahanadi Bachao Andolan (MBA) has urged the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) to conduct a special audit and compliance audit of the state government’s expenditure of ₹2,41,13,950 incurred during the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal’s visit to the state between February 26 and March 2, 2026.
In a detailed public interest memorandum submitted to the CAG, the organization demanded an independent investigation into the expenditure, stating that its objective was to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds. MBA convenor Sudarshan Das clarified that the memorandum was not intended to accuse any individual or entity. Instead, he said, it was aimed at ensuring that public funds spent on matters of vital public interest are subject to constitutional audit. Das said that the Mahanadi water dispute directly impacts the water security, agriculture, livelihoods, and environment of millions of people in Odisha, making it essential that all government expenditure related to the issue be transparent and accountable. The memorandum is based entirely on official documents obtained from the Water Resources Department under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. According to the RTI records, the Odisha government sanctioned a total of ₹2,41,13,950 for the Tribunal’s visit. Of this, ₹1,45,55,480 was spent on the Tribunal’s visit to the Upper Mahanadi region, while ₹95,58,470 was allocated for the Lower Mahanadi region.
The RTI documents provide a detailed breakdown of the expenditure for the Upper Mahanadi region, including payments of approximately ₹84.11 lakh to MM Event Management and ₹53.95 lakh to Mayfair Hotels & Resorts, among other expenses. However, Das alleged that no detailed expenditure statement was provided for the ₹95.58 lakh allegedly spent on the Tribunal’s visit to the Lower Mahanadi region. The memorandum requests the CAG to investigate whether the expenditure was incurred in accordance with the General Financial Rules (GFR), the Odisha Financial Rules, and prescribed government procurement procedures. It also seeks verification of whether the principles of frugality, transparency, and financial discipline were followed in the use of public funds, whether proper procedures were followed when engaging private agencies, and whether the entire expenditure statement related to the Lower Mahanadi Yatra should be made public. Copies of the memorandum have also been sent to the Principal Accountant General (Audit-I), Odisha, the Chief Secretary, the Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department, the Chief Engineer, the Accountant General (A&E), Odisha, and the Chairman of the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal.
