Amit Shah to Chair Mahanadi Water Dispute Talks

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a meeting on October 1 with the chief ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh to resolve the long-standing Mahanadi water-sharing dispute. This high-level intervention follows a series of diplomatic efforts, including a July 30 meeting in New Delhi chaired by Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil and a planned visit by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to Raipur to meet Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.

Mohan Charan Majhi and Vishnu Deo Sai are seeking a durable settlement focusing on reservoir releases, coordinated flood management, and a revised rule curve for the Hirakud dam to mitigate flood spells and lean-season shortages. Chief Minister Sai previously noted that the issue is no longer a political flashpoint since both states are now governed by the BJP.

The negotiated track is being facilitated by the Central Water Commission, which recently submitted details of previous state negotiations to the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal. Odisha Advocate General Pitambar Acharya stated that the upcoming meeting is expected to advance discussions on equitable water sharing, maintaining that the dispute can be resolved through mutual understanding.