TFP Bureau, New Delhi, August 31, 2025: After years of contention over the sharing of Mahanadi river waters, Chhattisgarh and Odisha have agreed to work together on finding a solution through dialogue and cooperation. A high-level meeting held in New Delhi on Saturday marked the beginning of a fresh initiative to address the decades-old dispute.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretaries and Water Resources Secretaries of both states. Officials acknowledged that the issue was complex and longstanding, but stressed that resolving it was essential in the interest of both states and their people.
It was decided that beginning September 2025, technical committees comprising engineers and subject experts from both states will meet every week. These committees will focus on identifying key areas of disagreement, exploring possible solutions, and improving coordination on the use and management of Mahanadi waters.
A follow-up meeting between the Chief Secretaries, along with Water Resources Secretaries, is scheduled for October. If progress continues, the Chief Ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh may hold a summit by December to decide on the future course of action.
Both states pledged to engage in the talks with transparency and sincerity, expressing hope that a mutually acceptable framework can be developed. Experts noted that if the initiative succeeds, it could serve as a model for resolving other inter-state river disputes in India through dialogue and cooperation rather than prolonged conflict.
