Bhubaneswar: As the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal held hearing on Saturday, Odisha presented its stand on the long-pending river water-sharing issue before the panel.
During the hearing, Odisha’s Advocate General (AG) Pitambar Acharya placed the state’s position before the tribunal and highlighted the ongoing efforts to resolve the issues relating to water-sharing through discussions with Chhattisgarh.
The Tribunal appreciated Odisha’s present approach, while the Advocate General informed the panel that technical teams from both states are now meeting weekly to discuss unresolved issues and explore viable solutions. He stressed that the change in government in Odisha has led to renewed efforts for compromise.
Noting that for the past seven years, the case had been pursued without focus, yielding little progress, Acharya expressed optimism that with the Tribunal’s active intervention, weekly technical meetings between the two states, and a constructive attitude, a resolution to the dispute could finally be reached.
According to the AG, around 40 key issues remain under contention, and technical teams from Odisha and Chhattisgarh will now meet regularly to address them.
Acharya also stressed that the Mahanadi issue was essentially political in nature, and could only be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding between the leaders of both states. He emphasized that without such political will, the dispute would remain unresolved despite legal and technical efforts.
With the Centre’s involvement, including mediation by the Union government and the Central Water Commission, a solution appears more likely. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has already spoken with the Chief Ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, while Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil has also been briefed on the matter.
The tribunal was briefed on recent high-level meetings between the Chief Secretaries of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, as well as correspondence between Chief Ministers Mohan Charan Majhi and Vishnu Deo Sai. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reportedly urged both leaders to resolve the issue through dialogue, while Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil is also monitoring developments.
Acharya stressed that unless the dispute is resolved, no new water projects will receive CWC clearance. He reiterated that political cooperation and technical negotiations are essential to reaching a fair and lasting solution.
The tribunal, chaired by Justice Bela M. Trivedi, hailed Odisha’s proactive steps to resolve the issue and scheduled the next hearing for October 11.
