Bhubaneswar, Sep 28: Efforts to resolve the long-standing Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh are set to receive a fresh push, with the chief ministers of the two states scheduled to meet on October 1 under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Odisha Advocate General Pitambar Acharya said on Monday that the proposed meeting would focus on discussions over sharing and management of Mahanadi waters and could help the two neighbouring states move towards a mutually acceptable understanding.

Acharya said the Secretary of the Central Water Commission (CWC) had submitted details of the last two meetings to the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal in accordance with its directions. The tribunal has taken the details on record.

He said Odisha had maintained from the beginning that the dispute could be addressed through mutual understanding and dialogue, rather than prolonged litigation, and expressed hope for progress through the upcoming discussions.

The development comes days after Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai met his Odisha counterpart Mohan Charan Majhi in Odisha on September 20. The two leaders held discussions for more than an hour on issues concerning the two states, including the Mahanadi water-sharing matter. Sai subsequently said the issue could be resolved soon and that discussions had already taken place between the two states.

The Centre has also facilitated talks between Odisha and Chhattisgarh. On July 30, Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil chaired a meeting involving both chief ministers to facilitate an amicable settlement.

The Mahanadi water-sharing dispute has remained before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal since 2018, while technical consultations between the two states have continued under the CWC.

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