Bhubaneswar: The decades-old Mahanadi river water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh could be resolved by Diwali, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Thursday in New Delhi after a high-level meeting with his Chhattisgarh counterpart, Vishnu Deo Sai.
Majhi said both states had agreed to make concerted efforts to resolve the long-pending dispute within the next three months through dialogue and mutual cooperation.
The announcement came after talks between the two Chief Ministers, during which they discussed key issues relating to the sharing, utilisation and management of Mahanadi river waters. The meeting was also attended by Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, who participated in the discussions aimed at facilitating a consensus between the two states.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Majhi described the discussions as “positive and constructive” and said both governments had expressed their commitment to finding an amicable and time-bound solution.
“The interests of Odisha, particularly its farmers and our rightful share of the Mahanadi waters, remain our foremost priority. We are hopeful that the issue can be be resolved before Diwali through continued dialogue,” the Chief Minister said.
He said the talks also focused on developing an effective mechanism for the sustainable management of the river while protecting the interests of both states.
The meeting marked a significant shift towards a negotiated settlement of the dispute, which has remained a contentious issue for years and has been the subject of legal proceedings and political confrontation. Both sides emphasised the need for cooperation over confrontation in addressing inter-state water-sharing concerns.
If the proposed timeline is achieved, it would represent a major breakthrough in one of eastern India’s most significant inter-state river disputes, potentially paving the way for a long-term framework for equitable water sharing and river management.
What is the Mahanadi water row?
The Mahanadi water dispute centres on Odisha’s allegation that upstream barrages and diversion structures constructed by Chhattisgarh have reduced downstream flows into the Hirakud reservoir, particularly during the lean season. According to Odisha, the diminished inflows threaten agricultural irrigation, drinking water supply and industrial operations across several districts.
Chhattisgarh, however, maintains that its projects are within permissible limits and that it is entitled to utilise the waters flowing through its territory.
With no mutually agreed water-sharing formula in place, the Centre constituted the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal in 2018 under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, to adjudicate the competing claims and recommend an equitable water-sharing framework.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
