The newly constituted high-level inter-ministerial committee on the Mahanadi water dispute held its inaugural meeting on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, signalling a unified approach to resolve the long-standing inter-state issue with Chhattisgarh.
The meeting, held at Rajiv Bhawan, focused on preliminary discussions regarding the historical background of the Mahanadi dispute, the Hirakud Dam project, upstream barrages constructed by Chhattisgarh, and the current status of proceedings before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal. Officials from the Water Resources Department, led by Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg, presented a detailed report on these aspects.
Emphasising Odisha’s commitment to an amicable resolution, Deputy CM Singh Deo stated that negotiations with Chhattisgarh would be prioritised to safeguard the state’s interests. “Odisha’s rights over the Mahanadi waters will be fully protected through dialogue,” he told reporters after the meeting. However, he added that parallel preparations are underway to present robust arguments in the tribunal if bilateral talks do not yield results.
The committee decided to hold its next meeting in January 2026 to further strategise and strengthen Odisha’s position as the lower riparian state.
The all-party panel includes Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, Government Chief Whip Saroj Kumar Pradhan, BJD MLA Niranjan Pujari, BJP MLA Jaynarayan Mishra (who joined virtually), and Congress MLA Sofia Firdous. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja and other senior officials were also present.
Opposition members stressed transparency and collective action. BJD’s Niranjan Pujari highlighted the need to inform the public about discussions and incorporate expert advice, noting that no compromise has been reached yet on inter-state river disputes. Congress MLA Sofia Firdous described the Mahanadi as Odisha’s “lifeline” and called for involving civil society organisations in the fight while ensuring full disclosure of proceedings to the people.
The Mahanadi River, originating in Chhattisgarh and flowing through Odisha, has been at the centre of tensions due to upstream projects affecting downstream water availability for irrigation, drinking, and industry. Recent bilateral efforts between the two states have shown promise for amicable settlement, aligning with the committee’s dual-track strategy of negotiation and legal preparedness.
