Bhubaneswar: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday said the long-pending Mahanadi water-sharing dispute with Odisha would be resolved soon, as he met Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi during a two-day visit to the state.
Sai arrived in Bhubaneswar on September 20 and met Majhi at the Odisha Chief Minister’s residence. The two leaders discussed cooperation between the neighbouring states and issues concerning their shared interests, including the Mahanadi water dispute.
Speaking to reporters after arriving in Bhubaneswar, Sai said both states had discussed the issue in New Delhi and agreed to accept the Central Water Commission’s (CWC) decision in the interest of both states.
“Whatever decision the CWC takes in the interest of both states will be acceptable to us,” Sai said.
CWC-Facilitated Talks Underway
The latest discussions follow a July 30 meeting in New Delhi chaired by Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil, which was attended by Sai, Majhi and senior officials from the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the CWC and both state governments. The meeting focused on finding an amicable settlement through dialogue and technical cooperation.
The Centre said the expanded Technical Committee, chaired by the CWC chairman and comprising representatives from Odisha and Chhattisgarh, had begun work on the remaining technical issues. The committee held its first meeting on July 29.
In July, Chhattisgarh also agreed to Odisha’s proposal for negotiations mediated by the CWC during proceedings before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT).
Tribunal Proceedings Continue
The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal has continued to monitor the settlement process. Its hearing was recently adjourned to September 28 amid ongoing technical consultations between the two states. According to Odisha’s Advocate General, the state teams had already held two rounds of discussions under the CWC, with another meeting scheduled for September 21.
The dispute concerns the sharing and management of Mahanadi river waters between Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The Centre constituted the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal in March 2018 following Odisha’s request under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
Following his meeting with Sai, Majhi described the interaction as “fruitful” and said the two states would work towards strengthening cooperation and advancing the development and welfare of their people.
The two chief ministers’ latest meeting comes as Odisha and Chhattisgarh continue efforts to reach a negotiated settlement through CWC-facilitated technical consultations.
