Amit Shah to Chair Odisha-Chhattisgarh Meeting on Mahanadi Water Dispute

The meeting between Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai is expected to focus on the equitable sharing and management of Mahanadi waters. Senior officials from both states are also expected to participate in the discussions.

The meeting comes less than two weeks after Sai met Majhi in Bhubaneswar on September 20. Following their discussions, Sai said there was no major problem between the two states over Mahanadi waters and expressed confidence that the issue could be resolved through dialogue.

"There is no dispute over Mahanadi water. As the BJP is in power in both the states, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, as well as at the Centre, this is going to be resolved very soon. Several long-pending inter-state river water disputes are also being settled amicably. So, the Mahanadi water dispute between Chhattisgarh and Odisha will also be resolved soon," Sai had said.

He had also said that the chief ministers and senior officials of the two states had held discussions in New Delhi and agreed to work with the Central Water Commission (CWC) to find a solution through mutual dialogue.

The Centre has facilitated several rounds of discussions between the two states. On July 30, Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil chaired a meeting with the two chief ministers and senior officials from the Centre and both states to facilitate an amicable settlement through dialogue and technical cooperation.

The Mahanadi water dispute has its origins in disagreements that intensified in 2016, with Odisha raising concerns over upstream water projects in Chhattisgarh and their potential impact on downstream flows. Odisha has also raised concerns regarding water availability for agriculture, fisheries and other requirements.

The Centre constituted the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal in March 2018 following Odisha's complaint under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act. The dispute has continued before the tribunal while the two states have pursued parallel discussions aimed at reaching a negotiated settlement.

The latest meeting is part of renewed efforts by the Centre and the two state governments to resolve the issue through dialogue and technical consultations. Details of earlier discussions have also been placed before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal by the Central Water Commission in accordance with its directions.

Following his September 20 meeting with Sai, Majhi had posted on X that the two leaders discussed strengthening cooperation between Odisha and Chhattisgarh and advancing their shared commitment to the development and welfare of people in both states.

The Mahanadi dispute remains subject to the ongoing tribunal process, and no final settlement had been announced ahead of Thursday's meeting.