Bhubaneswar: An 11-day marathon bilateral engagement between Odisha and Chhattisgarh began on Tuesday, marking what officials described as the most concerted push yet to resolve the long-pending Mahanadi water-sharing dispute through dialogue.
Advocate-General Highlights Progress
Advocate-General Pitambar Acharya stated that the outcome of the talks would be presented before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal at its next hearing on June 27. He expressed optimism, saying, We hope to resolve the issue mutually.
Structured Deliberations Underway
Officials revealed that the structured deliberations focus on key aspects such as the water-sharing formula, water availability, upstream projects, basin management, and data reconciliation. The goal is to achieve point-by-point consensus on these critical issues.
Political Leadership Involved
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had indicated on June 12 that he would soon meet his Chhattisgarh counterpart, Vishnu Deo Sai, in New Delhi to explore an amicable settlement. This meeting is expected to occur after technical and legal teams conclude their discussions.
Background of the Dispute
The Centre established the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal in March 2018 under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, following Odisha's suit in the Supreme Court in December 2016. Since coming to power, the BJP government in Odisha has advocated for a negotiated settlement, citing the litigation route as time-consuming.
In April this year, the Centre extended the tribunal's tenure by nine months, moving the deadline from April 13, 2026, to January 13, 2027. This latest round of talks follows a series of political and administrative initiatives over the past 18 months aimed at breaking the deadlock.
Efforts Towards Negotiated Settlement
Efforts for a negotiated settlement gained momentum after the tribunal, during proceedings on January 25, 2025, encouraged both states to explore an out-of-court resolution. Subsequent meetings between the chief ministers in February and March last year signaled a willingness on both sides to pursue dialogue.
On July 25, 2025, Chief Minister Majhi wrote to the Chhattisgarh chief minister proposing the formation of a joint committee under the Central Water Commission to facilitate sustained engagement. The tribunal later granted additional time for negotiations after both states expressed readiness for an amicable settlement.
Formalization of Dialogue Mechanism
A structured dialogue mechanism was formalized during a meeting of the two states chief secretaries in Delhi on August 30, 2025. Odisha subsequently formed a high-level political committee under Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo in December and convened an all-party meeting in January this year to finalize its position ahead of formal negotiations.
Officials noted that progress made during the ongoing discussions could significantly influence the future course of the dispute before the tribunal.
