Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards resolving the long-standing Mahanadi water dispute, the Chief Secretaries of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, along with senior officials from their respective Water Resources departments, have held a high-level meeting. The two states have expressed a shared commitment to work sincerely and amicably to find a mutually beneficial resolution through dialogue and cooperation.
The meeting, comes as a promising development in a dispute that has seen years of legal battles, including proceedings before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal. Both states have now agreed to shift their focus to a collaborative approach outside the tribunal.
As part of this new framework, a series of structured talks has been outlined:
Technical Committees, to be headed by the Engineer-in-Chiefs (EICs) of both states, will convene on a weekly basis throughout September. Their primary mandate is to identify and resolve critical issues related to the Mahanadi’s water sharing. The committees will also discuss the creation of a permanent institutional framework to ensure stronger and more effective coordination in the future.
A follow-up meeting at the level of Chief Secretaries, which will also include the Secretaries of Water Resources, is scheduled for October. This meeting will review the progress made by the technical committees and take the discussions forward.
The culmination of these efforts may see a meeting between the Hon’ble Chief Ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh by December. This meeting, to be held at a time convenient to both leaders, aims to take stock of the progress and explore an amicable, long-term resolution to the dispute in the best interest of the people of both states.
This joint initiative marks a positive shift from confrontation to cooperation, with both state administrations acknowledging the need for a collaborative approach to ensure the sustainable management of the Mahanadi river, a lifeline for millions in the region.