Chhattisgarh Voices Optimism for Mahanadi Water Dispute Resolution Ahead of Key Meetings
In a significant development regarding the long-standing Mahanadi water dispute, the Chhattisgarh government has expressed strong hope for an amicable settlement with neighboring Odisha. This optimism comes ahead of two crucial events: a scheduled visit by an Odisha delegation this Saturday and a hearing before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal on February 7.
Proposed Water-Sharing Ratio and Core Issues
According to officials familiar with the negotiations, if a resolution is achieved during the upcoming tribunal hearing, the water-sharing arrangement between Chhattisgarh and Odisha is likely to be set at a 45:55 ratio. However, this proportion remains tentative as the fundamental issue of determining the total yield of the Mahanadi river has not yet been settled.
Rajesh Sukumar Toppo, Secretary of Chhattisgarh's Water Resources Department, emphasized this critical point in discussions with media representatives. "Perhaps, this is the only inter-state river dispute in India where the total yield of the river is yet to be determined," Toppo noted, highlighting the unique complexity of this decades-old conflict.
Historical Context and Current Developments
The Mahanadi water dispute has its roots in 1955, with tensions escalating significantly since 2014 due to increased industrial activity and agricultural demands driven by population growth in both states. The sixth-largest river in India, which flows 851 kilometers from Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district to the Bay of Bengal, serves as a vital lifeline supporting approximately 48 lakh hectares of agricultural land and eight lakh hectares of forest across both states.
Toppo explained the fundamental disagreement: "Odisha has been considering only the stretch of the Mahanadi above the Hirakud dam, without including the portion flowing below the dam. This has been the main point of contention driving the long-standing dispute."
Storage Capacities and Construction Stalemate
The water resources secretary provided important context regarding storage capacities, revealing that the Hirakud dam alone has a storage capacity of 6,000 million cubic meters, while Chhattisgarh's total storage capacity along the river is approximately 8,000 MCM. This disparity in infrastructure development has contributed to the ongoing tensions.
Toppo also addressed the current construction impasse: "No construction work on dams on the Mahanadi is currently underway in Chhattisgarh. Whenever Chhattisgarh constructs a dam, Odisha raises objections, and when Odisha builds one, we oppose it. As a result, all construction work has come to a halt."
Upcoming Delegation Visit and Tribunal Proceedings
A committee constituted by the Odisha government is scheduled to visit Chhattisgarh for two days of discussions aimed at resolving the dispute. While no specific agenda has been set for these meetings, officials indicate that detailed discussions on findings to date will take place between the two states.
Simultaneously, the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal has declined Odisha's request to adjourn the February 7 hearing, despite citing the non-availability of the state's advocate general. In a communication dated January 22, the Tribunal clarified that the scheduled hearing was not meant to be an effective proceeding but rather an opportunity to apprise the Tribunal of the status and progress of mutual discussions between the states.
The Tribunal has decided to proceed with the hearing as scheduled while exempting Odisha's advocate general from personal appearance. Ahead of the panel's visit to Chhattisgarh, Odisha held an all-party meeting on January 23 to finalize its negotiating position.
Environmental Concerns and Activist Perspectives
Environmental activists have raised serious concerns about the Mahanadi's current condition. Sudarsan Das, convenor of the Mahanadi Bachao Andolan, described what he called an unprecedented crisis due to extensive upstream construction affecting the river's environmental flow.
According to activist reports, recent inspections suggest that the Kalma barrage—the last of six major structures constructed by Chhattisgarh before the river enters Odisha—has significantly affected downstream flow. Activists claim that while the upstream of the Kalma barrage resembles a vast water body, the downstream stretch toward Odisha appears dry, with the riverbed at Sukhasoda (where the river enters Odisha) reportedly covered with grass and bushes with no visible water.
Industrial Use Disputes and Regulatory Concerns
Since 2004, the Chhattisgarh government has constructed several projects along the Mahanadi, including six major industrial barrages at Saradih, Kalma, Basantapur, Sheorinarayan, Mironi, and Samoda. Data presented in the Odisha Assembly indicates that over 2,000 projects, including minor irrigation schemes and anicuts, have been initiated in the upper catchment area.
Activists allege that these structures primarily serve industrial units and thermal power plants rather than agricultural purposes. Concerns have also been raised about environmental clearances, with reports suggesting that several projects were classified as minor irrigation schemes to bypass scrutiny by the Environment Impact Assessment Authority, despite their substantial scale and industrial applications.
Under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act of 1956, upstream states are required to seek consent from lower riparian states for large projects. Odisha has consistently alleged that Chhattisgarh proceeded with construction without adequate consultation or by providing misleading information about project scope and impact.
Path Forward and Optimistic Outlook
Despite these complex challenges, Toppo expressed cautious optimism about reaching a resolution: "We are more or less in agreement on most issues when we sit at the discussion table, and Odisha seems to have changed its outlook. An amicable settlement is possible only when Odisha agrees to include the stretch of the river below Hirakud in Odisha. As far as my knowledge goes, Odisha has changed its perspective, which is an indication that a resolution might not be too far away."
The secretary highlighted the annual water crisis experienced between January and June, which has been deepening due to industrial expansion and agricultural activities in both states. "We are into the sixth generation since the dispute cropped up in 1955, but the issue continues to dog the two states," he remarked, underscoring the urgent need for a permanent solution.
As both states prepare for the upcoming delegation visit and tribunal hearing, all stakeholders remain hopeful that a fair and sustainable resolution can be achieved to benefit the millions who depend on the Mahanadi's waters for their livelihoods and sustenance.
