Chief Minister Raman Singh on Saturday said that Mahanadi river belongs to both Chhattisgarh and Odisha while adding that the dispute with regard to its water sharing is unwarranted.
“I don’t consider it as a dispute. Mahanadi belongs to both Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The nature has given so much water to Mahanadi river that there is no question of any dispute”, he told reporters in New Delhi.
Notably, a meeting between the Centre , Odisha and Chhattisgarh States over the Mahanadi water sharing issue was held in New Delhi on Saturday.
The meeting was chaired by Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti in which Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik participated along with senior officials from both states.
It was decided in the meeting that a Committee would be formed to resolve the issue, officials informed.
At least seven percent catchment area belongs to Chhattisgarh and the amount of water that is available can fill Hirakund Dam in Odisha thrice,” Singh said.
He said that Mahanadi is a connecting river between Odisha and Chhattisgarh and if the water of the river is used scientifically, it would be beneficial for both the States.