In a significant move towards resolving the long-standing inter-state water dispute over the Mahanadi River, the newly constituted Inter-Ministerial Committee held its inaugural meeting today at Rajiv Bhawan, under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo.
The meeting brought together key political leaders and officials in a display of cross-party unity. Attendees included Ministers Suresh Pujari, Prithviraj Harichandan, and Sampad Chandra Swain; MLAs Saroj Kumar Pradhan, Niranjan Pujari, and Sofia Firdous; with MLA Jayanarayan Mishra joining virtually. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg, along with senior officers and engineers from the Department of Water Resources (DoWR), provided technical inputs.
Discussions focused on preliminary aspects of the dispute, including the Hirakud Dam project, the historical context of the Mahanadi conflict, the ongoing proceedings before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal, and pathways for an amicable bilateral settlement with Chhattisgarh. The committee reviewed the current status of matters in the Mahanadi basin, emphasizing Odisha’s interests as the lower riparian state.
It was decided to convene the next meeting in January 2026 to further strengthen Odisha’s position and advance negotiations aimed at a mutually acceptable resolution.
The formation of this high-level, all-party committee earlier this month reflects the Odisha government’s commitment to protecting the state’s water rights while pursuing dialogue. The Mahanadi, vital for irrigation, drinking water, and industry in Odisha, has been at the centre of tensions due to upstream projects in Chhattisgarh. Both states have recently expressed willingness for talks, with the tribunal granting time for negotiations.
