Amit Shah to Chair Meeting on Odisha-Chhattisgarh Mahanadi Water Dispute

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a meeting in Delhi on Thursday to discuss the long-standing Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said he will attend the meeting and that both states have agreed to abide by the decision of the Central Water Commission (CWC).

“Today, I am going to Delhi. There has been a water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh for so many years, so today we will hold a meeting under the chairmanship of the Union Home Minister,” Sai said, according to ANI.

Sai said both chief ministers have informed the CWC that they are willing to accept its decision in the interest of both states.

The Mahanadi water dispute centres on the sharing and management of the river, with Odisha objecting to the construction of barrages by Chhattisgarh in upstream areas. Odisha has argued that these structures affect downstream water flow, particularly during the lean season.

Odisha raised objections in 2016 to the construction of six barrages in Chhattisgarh, alleging that they would reduce downstream flow during the non-monsoon period. Following Odisha’s petition in the Supreme Court, the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal was constituted in 2018 to examine the matter.

Efforts to resolve the dispute through dialogue have gained momentum recently. On July 30, the Centre facilitated a meeting between the chief ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, chaired by Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil.

Thursday’s meeting is expected to focus on finding a mutually acceptable solution to the decade-old dispute through technical consultations and dialogue.