Bhubaneswar: Following a high-level meeting on the Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh in New Delhi on Thursday under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the final framework for resolving the issue would emerge soon.
Majhi said the discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere and described them as positive. “We are gradually moving closer to a solution,” he said.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil was also present at the meeting, along with senior officials from the Union Home Ministry, Jal Shakti Ministry, Central Water Commission (CWC) and the two state governments.
The Odisha Chief Minister said the Mahanadi is the “lifeline” of Odisha and that several issues concerning the river were raised during the meeting, including irrigation, flood control, hydropower generation, drinking water supply and environmental concerns.
He said particular emphasis was placed on ensuring adequate availability of Mahanadi water for Odisha.
He said the process of finding a solution had gained momentum following the change of government in both Odisha and Chhattisgarh, with efforts being pursued through legal, administrative and political channels.
According to Majhi, he and Sai had held discussions on the issue in July and August 2025, followed by several meetings between the chief secretaries and water resources secretaries of the two states.
He also referred to a meeting held in July this year under the chairmanship of Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, which was attended by both chief ministers.
Following the July meeting, both states have been providing the Central Water Commission with details, data and information regarding their respective requirements, Majhi said. He added an initial understanding had been reached to work towards a solution within three months. “Two months have already passed and progress has been made as expected,” the Chief Minister said.
Majhi expressed hope that a resolution to the Mahanadi dispute could serve as a model for resolving similar inter-State disputes.
The Mahanadi water-sharing dispute has remained before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal since 2018. The Central Water Commission has been facilitating technical consultations between Odisha and Chhattisgarh as part of efforts towards an amicable settlement.
The meeting comes after a July 30 discussion chaired by Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, during which the two states reaffirmed their commitment to continued technical consultations and an amicable settlement.