Mahanadi Water Dispute Resolution: Chhattisgarh Says It Will Accept CWC Decision

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Bhubaneswar: Hopes for a resolution of the long-standing Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh have risen, with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai saying his government will accept the decision taken by the Central Water Commission (CWC) in the interest of both states.

Sai made the remarks before leaving for New Delhi, where a high-level meeting on the Mahanadi dispute is scheduled to be held on Thursday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the meeting, which will be attended by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and his Chhattisgarh counterpart.

Sai said a positive atmosphere has emerged for resolving the decades-old dispute through discussions between the Centre and the two neighbouring states. He also referred to the fact that BJP governments are currently in power in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and at the Centre.

According to Sai, both states have agreed that a decision taken by the CWC while safeguarding the interests of Odisha and Chhattisgarh would be acceptable to them. He has expressed confidence that the dispute can be resolved soon.

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Efforts to find an amicable settlement have gathered momentum in recent months. On July 30, Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil chaired a meeting with the Chief Ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh in New Delhi. The Centre said the talks were aimed at finding an amicable settlement through dialogue, technical cooperation and consultations.

The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal was constituted by the Centre in March 2018 after Odisha sought adjudication of the interstate river water dispute with Chhattisgarh. The dispute has centred on the sharing and management of Mahanadi waters, including Odisha’s concerns over upstream projects and downstream water availability.

Thursday’s high-level meeting is expected to give a fresh push to negotiations between the two states, though no final settlement has yet been formally announced.

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