Odisha, Chhattisgarh express willingness to resolve Mahanadi water dispute ‘amicably’

After a prolonged legal battle over sharing Mahanadi river water in a designated tribunal, Odisha and Chhattisgarh have now expressed willingness to resolve the dispute amicably between themselves.

Upon being informed by the two States that they would give a chance for amicable settlement, the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Bela M. Trivedi on Saturday (August 2, 2025) fixed the next date hearing on September 6.

“We deem it appropriate to give more time to resolve the dispute amicably as may be possible and apprise the tribunal about the progress of the same on the next date,” orders MWDT.

Directions to secretaries

It directed secretaries concerned of the two States to remain present before the tribunal on the next date to apprise the body about the progress of the settlement talks between the two States.

Pitambar Acharya, Odisha’s advocate general, had placed proceedings of a high-level meeting and letter of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi to his Chhattisgarh counterpart Vishnu Deo Sai and the latter’s reply before the tribunal stating that the matter of settlement of Mahanadi river water dispute between the two States was under consideration. The senior advocate for Chhattisgarh also acknowledged the development.

In the letter addressed to Mr. Sai on July 25, Mr. Majhi had proposed that under the guidance of Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, a joint committee of both the States led by the Central Water Commission (CWC) may be established.

“This committee would comprise of senior technical officials from both Odisha and Chhattisgarh and aim to facilitate sustained dialogue and technical negotiations to reach a mutually beneficial settlement,” he mooted.

“I firmly believe that, with our collective effort and active cooperation of both States and the Central Water Commission; we can achieve a just, equitable, and timely resolution to this pressing issue. Such a resolution will not only bring about peace and stability but also foster greater cooperation, trust, and goodwill between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, paving the way for future collaborations,” the Odisha CM mentioned.

Responding to the letter on August 1, the Chhattisgarh CM said the proposal for an amicable settlement of the dispute over Mahanadi water was under consideration.

River flow

The Mahanadi river, often described as the lifeline of Odisha, originates from the Amarkantak hills in Bastar Plateau of Chhattisgarh. It flows for a total length of 851 kilometres, of which 494 km lie within Odisha, before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. Along its course, the river is fed by numerous tributaries, branches, and sub-branches, sustaining human settlements, ecosystems, and various water-dependent needs.

Following its formation as a separate State, Chhattisgarh began constructing a significant number of major, medium, and minor irrigation projects, including anicuts and industrial barrages, without consulting Odisha. It is important to note that there is no formal inter-State water sharing agreement between the two States.

Over time, Odisha observed a considerable decline in the flow of Mahanadi waters entering its territory, attributing this to Chhattisgarh’s extensive upstream construction and increased water usage. According to the Odisha government, Chhattisgarh has built more than 500 anicuts and 30 barrages, many primarily for industrial use.

Odisha has raised concerns that the reduced river flow has adversely affected irrigation, drinking water supply, and the ecological balance of its sensitive coastal areas. In contrast, Chhattisgarh maintains that 52.9% of the Mahanadi’s total catchment area — and 89.9% of the catchment area up to the Hirakud Dam — lies within its borders, giving it the rightful claim to utilise the river’s waters.

Odisha lodges protest

Odisha had lodged a protest with the Union government about indiscriminate use of Mahanadi river water without paying heed to the concerns of a State, which had traditionally been using the river water by building infrastructure based on the flow. However, the dispute failed to get any serious attention.

Odisha filed a suit in the Supreme Court on the matter of Mahanadi water dispute. At the final hearing of this suit on January 23, 2018, the top court directed the Centre to constitute a tribunal. Accordingly, the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation constituted the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) on March 12, 2018 under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.