Mahanadi water dispute with Odisha to be resolved soon: Chhattisgarh CM

The long-standing Mahanadi water dispute between Chhattisgarh and Odisha will be resolved soon in the mutual interest of both states, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said on Monday.

Speaking to reporters at Swami Vivekananda Airport after a two-day visit to Odisha, Sai said he held discussions with his Odisha counterpart Mohan Charan Majhi and there was no scope for conflict over the issue.

"The Mahanadi water issue is going to be resolved very soon. Both states have BJP governments, and the NDA government is at the Centre. There is no situation of dispute anywhere," Sai said.

He said the matter, which was earlier before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal, has now been referred to the Central Water Commission (CWC).

The dispute over sharing of Mahanadi waters has continued for more than a decade, with Odisha objecting to barrages constructed upstream in Chhattisgarh and alleging that they affect downstream flows, particularly during the lean season.

Odisha had in 2016 filed a complaint with the then Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, now the Ministry of Jal Shakti, opposing the construction of six barrages for industrial purposes in Chhattisgarh.

The state had raised concerns over reduced downstream flow, especially during the lean period.

The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal was constituted in 2018 following the Supreme Court's directions on a suit filed by the Odisha government.

In recent months, both states have indicated their willingness to seek an amicable settlement through dialogue and technical consultations.

The Centre had on July 30 facilitated a meeting between Sai and Majhi, chaired by Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil, as part of efforts to resolve the dispute.

The Mahanadi basin is considered particularly important for Chhattisgarh, with 78 per cent of the state's population living in the basin, according to a state government official.

The basins of five rivers -- Mahanadi, Godavari, Ganga, Brahmani and Narmada -- extend into Chhattisgarh.