Bhubaneswar: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday said the long-pending Mahanadi water-sharing issue with Odisha would be resolved soon, as he arrived in the neighbouring state on a two-day visit and held talks with his Odisha counterpart Mohan Charan Majhi.
Sai, who arrived in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, met Majhi at the Odisha Chief Minister’s residence. The two leaders discussed cooperation between the neighbouring states and issues concerning their shared interests, with the Mahanadi water dispute figuring prominently in the backdrop of the meeting.
Speaking to reporters after his arrival, Sai said the Mahanadi issue was no longer a major dispute and expressed confidence that it would be resolved soon.
He said the two chief ministers and senior officials had already held discussions in New Delhi and agreed to accept whatever decision the Central Water Commission (CWC) takes in the interest of both states.
“Whatever decision the CWC takes in the interest of both states will be acceptable to us,” Sai said.
His remarks come nearly two months after Union Jal Shakti minister C.R. Patil chaired a meeting with the two chief ministers in New Delhi to facilitate an amicable settlement of the decades-old dispute. The meeting involved senior officials of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the CWC and both state governments.
The two states have since agreed to intensify technical consultations aimed at finding an equitable and sustainable settlement. Odisha Chief Minister Majhi had said after the July meeting that the dispute was expected to be resolved within three months, possibly before Diwali.
The Mahanadi dispute has remained a contentious issue between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, particularly over the sharing and management of the river’s waters and upstream projects. Odisha has maintained that its interests, particularly those of farmers and downstream users, must be protected.
However, there has been a shift towards negotiated settlement in recent months. In July, Chhattisgarh agreed to Odisha’s proposal for resolving the dispute through negotiations under the mediation of the CWC.
Majhi, after meeting Sai on Sunday, described the interaction as “fruitful” and said the two states would work towards strengthening cooperation and advancing the development and welfare of their people.
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