Bhubaneswar: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo on Tuesday expressed confidence that the long-standing inter-state Mahanadi river water dispute with Chhattisgarh will be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding, while firmly protecting Odisha’s interests.
The assurance came after the first meeting of the high-level committee constituted to address the decades-old dispute. The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, the Development Commissioner, both Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs), and all members of the committee. Senior BJP leader Jayanarayana Mishra participated virtually.
Briefing the media, Singh Deo said the committee was comprehensively apprised of the positions taken by both Odisha and Chhattisgarh on the sharing of Mahanadi river waters.
“It has been decided that the dispute will be resolved through negotiations in an amicable manner, while fully safeguarding Odisha’s rights and interests,” he said.
The high-level committee has been entrusted with formulating a well-calibrated and strategic roadmap to protect Odisha’s legitimate claim over Mahanadi waters, while simultaneously exploring a mutually acceptable resolution with the neighbouring state.
Meanwhile, senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Niranjan Pujari, who is also a member of the committee, called for an all-party meeting to ensure broader political consensus on the issue. He urged the government to involve all stakeholders and transparently share the course of action being contemplated.
Pujari further asserted that river water disputes in India have historically been resolved through judicial intervention and emphasised that the previous BJD government had strongly represented Odisha’s case before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal. He demanded that the state’s legal and technical representation before the tribunal be further strengthened.
Congress leader Sofia Firdous, also a member of the high-level committee, underscored the need for collective political engagement when vital state interests are at stake. She said the inaugural meeting helped members gain clarity on various dimensions of the dispute, including scientific assessments, technical reports, and the arguments currently placed before the tribunal.
According to Firdous, the deliberations helped establish a shared working understanding among stakeholders, which will guide future steps.
“Any decision must be logical, evidence-based, and rooted in public interest. The primary objective should be to protect the rights of the people of Odisha and ensure a fair, sustainable resolution,” she said.
