Bhubaneswar, Aug 2: In a major development in the long-standing Mahanadi water-sharing dispute, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has responded positively to Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi’s letter proposing mutual dialogue.

Sai expressed his willingness to engage in amicable discussions to resolve the issue, marking a significant shift toward collaborative resolution.

The dispute, which centres around Chhattisgarh’s upstream water projects allegedly affecting downstream flow into Odisha, has been under the purview of the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal since 2018. Despite 40+ hearings, no conclusive verdict has been reached.

The latest hearing, originally scheduled for August 2, has now been postponed to September 6, allowing both states more time to explore a negotiated settlement. Odisha’s Advocate General Pitambar Acharya informed the tribunal that political and administrative-level talks are progressing, and both sides are open to compromise.

The Odisha government has consistently maintained that technical support from the Central Water Commission (CWC) and Union government mediation could help resolve the issue. CM Majhi emphasized that a peaceful resolution would not only protect Odisha’s agricultural interests but also strengthen inter-state relations.

Recent meetings between chief secretaries and water resource officials from both states have focused on data sharing, water flow monitoring, and riparian rights. The Odisha government has also convened all-party meetings and engaged civil society groups to build consensus.

As the tribunal awaits status reports from both states, hopes are rising that the dispute — one of India’s most prolonged inter-state water conflicts — may finally move toward resolution.

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