Bhubaneswar: Fresh efforts are underway to resolve the long-pending Mahanadi water dispute through an amicable settlement between Odisha and Chhattisgarh while fully safeguarding Odisha’s interests, Odisha Advocate General Pitambar Acharya said on Saturday.
Addressing mediapersons, Acharya said a comprehensive report assessing the total water availability in the Mahanadi river basin has already been prepared ahead of any decision on water sharing between the two states.
He informed that the report was compiled after extensive deliberations and technical consultations, with engineers from Odisha and Chhattisgarh holding around 15 meetings to prepare the data-based assessment.
The Advocate General said experience from across the country shows that water disputes are rarely resolved entirely through tribunals and courts alone. Instead, he said, negotiations and mutual understanding have often emerged as the most effective mechanism for settlement.
Acharya asserted that while some degree of adjustment may be required during discussions, Odisha’s core interests would not be compromised under any circumstances.
Referring to earlier developments in the dispute, he alleged that certain stakeholders, driven by political interests, had opposed the Centre’s proposal for a negotiated settlement and instead chose to pursue legal remedies.
However, he noted that judicial proceedings over the last seven years had made little headway in achieving a practical resolution to the dispute.
In a significant development, Acharya said the tribunal has now accepted proposals submitted by both Odisha and Chhattisgarh and has expressed willingness to facilitate a mutually agreed settlement, raising hopes for a breakthrough in the long-standing inter-state river water dispute.
