Shah facilitates Mahanadi water dispute talks between Odisha and Chhattisgarh

Home Minister Amit Shah has intervened in the long-standing Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, pushing both states toward a negotiated resolution. Following a review of technical talks led by the Central Water Commission, Shah encouraged representatives from both states to pursue settlement discussions, sources said.

Both Odisha and Chhattisgarh expressed confidence in the prospects of reaching an agreement through bilateral negotiations, marking a potential shift in their approach to the dispute. The intervention signals the Centre's preference for settling interstate water conflicts without prolonged tribunal proceedings.

The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal, established to adjudicate the matter, remains active as an institutional backstop. The tribunal's existence provides a formal mechanism should negotiations between the states fail to produce a mutually acceptable agreement within the specified timeframe.

The Mahanadi river, originating in Chhattisgarh and flowing through Odisha before emptying into the Bay of Bengal, has long been a source of contention between the two states over water allocation and dam construction projects. Technical discussions have focused on optimising water sharing while accommodating development needs of both regions.