Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Friday held a key meeting on Mahanadi River water dispute after putting on hold the proposed all-party meet on the issue following an aggressive move by opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
Sources said the proposed all-party meeting convened by the government to discuss the issue was cancelled. While no official reason for the cancellation has been given so far and the next meeting date is awaited, detailed discussions were held by the government on the issue.
On the other hand, a high-level government meeting was held in Bhubaneswar. The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo, and attended among others by Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, and Chief Secretary Anu Garg to review legal, administrative and tribunal-related aspects of the dispute.
The all-party meeting was expected to help evolve a unified political stand of Odisha ahead of inter-state dialogue with Chhattisgarh on sharing of Mahanadi waters. The meeting had been convened for detailed discussion on the future course of action of the state government.
The cancellation comes a day after the BJD Political Affairs Committee (PAC), in a meeting held on Thursday, decided to revive statewide protests over the Mahanadi issue, alleging inaction by the “double-engine” government and reiterating that Mahanadi is Odisha’s lifeline.
The BJD PAC reaffirmed that there should be no compromise on Odisha’s water rights, particularly in view of upstream barrages in Chhattisgarh affecting downstream districts during non-monsoon months.
The development came ahead of the proposed visit of Odisha delegation to Chhattisgarh later this month, which was to be guided by inputs from all political parties.
With the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal’s (MWDT)tenure set to end in April, the issue has gained renewed political urgency, even as parties remain divided over the approach while agreeing on protecting Odisha’s interests.
Meanwhile, the Tribunal (MWDT) has reportedly expressed serious concern over the failure of the Odisha and Chhattisgarh governments to comply with its direction to submit a joint application seeking extension of its tenure on or before the first week of January 2026.
The Tribunal during its hearing on December 20, 2025 had asked the party states to submit a joint application as its tenure will be over on April 13, 2026.
Sources said this has raised questions on the continuity of the Tribunal as during the rest of the tenure, there is only one hearing scheduled on February 7.
