The decades-long Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh may move closer to a resolution, with the Centre constituting a high-level committee that has been asked to submit its report to the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal within three months.

The decision was taken at the first-ever high-level meeting chaired by Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, attended by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. The committee, headed by the Chairman of the Central Water Commission (CWC), will examine key issues related to water sharing and recommend a framework for equitable river management while safeguarding the interests of farmers in both states.

The development has raised hopes of ending a dispute that has remained unresolved for years. However, questions remain over the committee’s recommendations, particularly regarding how much water Chhattisgarh will release to Odisha during the non-monsoon season, when water scarcity severely affects irrigation and agriculture in downstream areas.

According to data submitted by the Odisha government before the Tribunal, based on 39 years of hydrological records, the average annual inflow into the Hirakud Reservoir is 32.83 million acre-feet (MAF), of which 27.76 MAF originates from Chhattisgarh.

During drought years or under 90% dependability conditions, however, the inflow from Chhattisgarh to Hirakud falls to 21.82 MAF, significantly impacting water availability in Odisha. The data further states that the average annual flow at Naraj is 56.29 MAF, while the total flow across the Mahanadi basin, including the Chilika region, is estimated at 62.36 MAF.

Former water resources experts have argued that during the lean season, Chhattisgarh should ensure the release of 2 MAF of water to Hirakud and 1.74 MAF at the inter-state border to protect Odisha’s irrigation and drinking water needs.

Significantly, nearly eight years after the constitution of the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal, both states have reportedly agreed on the methodology for measuring river flows, removing a major hurdle in the adjudication process. The focus now shifts to the committee’s report and whether it can pave the way for a lasting and equitable settlement of the long-pending interstate water dispute.

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The first meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Mahanadi interstate water issues was held on Monday at Rajiv Bhawan, Department of Water Resources, Bhubaneswar. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Shri K.V. Singh Deo, marking an important step in strengthening Odisha’s position on the long-pending Mahanadi water dispute.

High-Level Participation

The meeting witnessed the presence of senior ministers Shri Suresh Pujari, Shri Prithviraj Harichandan, and Shri Sampad Chandra Swain. Several legislators also attended, including Shri Saroj Kumar Pradhan, Shri Niranjan Pujari, and Ms. Sofia Firdous. Senior MLA Shri Jayanarayan Mishra participated in the meeting virtually.

Top bureaucrats were also present to provide technical and administrative inputs. These included Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja and Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Smt. Anu Garg, along with senior officers and engineers from the Department of Water Resources (DoWR).

Key Issues Discussed

During the meeting, the committee held preliminary discussions on several crucial aspects of the Mahanadi water dispute. These included the Hirakud Project, the historical background of the interstate dispute, and the current status of proceedings before the Hon’ble Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal.

The committee also deliberated on the possibility of an amicable settlement of Mahanadi-related issues and reviewed the overall status of matters concerning the Mahanadi river basin.

Way Forward

It was decided that the next meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee will be convened in January 2026. The upcoming meeting will focus on further consolidating Odisha’s position and advancing efforts towards a mutually acceptable resolution of the interstate Mahanadi water issues.

The formation and early functioning of the committee reflect the state government’s intent to address the dispute in a structured and coordinated manner.

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