Bhubaneswar: The long-standing dispute over Mahanadi River water between Odisha and Chhattisgarh is expected to be resolved soon.
This was stated by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai soon after his arrival in Bhubaneswar on a two-day visit to Odisha. During his visit, Sai is scheduled to offer prayers at the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar and Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
Sai’s two-day tour commenced with a meeting with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at his official residence in Bhubaneswar.
The two chief ministers were understood to have held discussions on several issues concerning the interests of Odisha and Chhattisgarh during a meeting, described as a courtesy call by Sai. Discussions were believed to have covered various important issues, including the long-standing Mahanadi water dispute between the two states.
Sai had earlier stated that discussions had already taken place between the two CMs in New Delhi, setting the stage for an amicable and speedy settlement of the Mahanadi issue.
Expressing optimism about early resolution of the issue, he said there is no major dispute over the Mahanadi River anymore as the political landscape had changed in both states.
“Both Odisha and Chhattisgarh now have BJP governments, while the NDA leads the Central government. Wherever the BJP has come to power, complex water disputes have been successfully resolved,” the Chhattisgarh CM said before the meeting.
Following the meeting, Majhi said the two leaders had a fruitful discussion on strengthening bilateral cooperation. “We had a fruitful interaction on strengthening cooperation between Odisha and Chhattisgarh and advancing our shared commitment towards the development and welfare of our people,” he said in a post on X.
It was a pleasure to receive Hon’ble Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai Ji, at my residence.
We had a fruitful interaction on strengthening cooperation between Odisha and Chhattisgarh and advancing our shared commitment towards the development and welfare of our… pic.twitter.com/msNYpYukeS
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) September 20, 2026
A key breakthrough in the matter comes from mutual consensus regarding the Central Water Commission (CWC). According to the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, both state governments have officially communicated their consent to the CWC. “Whatever decision the CWC takes, both states will abide by it,” Sai said, signalling a historic spirit of cooperation between the neighbouring states.
The Mahanadi water-sharing issue has been a sensitive political and ecological topic for years, with disputes centred on river flow during the non-monsoon months and upstream barrage constructions.