The long-standing Mahanadi River water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh will be resolved soon, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai stated on Sunday during his two-day visit to Odisha.
He affirmed that both state governments have agreed to accept whatever final decision the Central Water Commission (CWC) takes regarding the matter.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Sai shared that talks had already taken place between the two state leaders in Delhi, where both sides submitted their formal viewpoints to the CWC.
Downplaying the intensity of the disagreement, Sai remarked that there is no real dispute regarding the Mahanadi River. Instead, he attributed the differences to minor misunderstandings and a lack of effective communication, which he assured have now been addressed. Pointing out that BJP leads the state governments in both Odisha and Chhattisgarh alongside the NDA at the Centre, he emphasised that water disputes do not persist where BJP governs. He expressed confidence that a solution will emerge within the federal structure while giving top priority to protecting the mutual interests of both states.
The dispute originally dates back nearly a decade, when the Raman Singh-led BJP government in Chhattisgarh constructed several upstream barrages. While Chhattisgarh maintained these were intended to provide localised agricultural irrigation, critics argued they were built to feed industrial units, leading to reduced downstream water flow into Odisha and the Hirakud Reservoir during non-monsoon periods.
Following complaints raised by the previous Naveen Patnaik administration, the Supreme Court directed the establishment of the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal. With legal proceedings dragging on, both states have now opted for mutual negotiations under the guidance of the CWC to reach an amicable settlement.
