After the prolonged legal battle for sharing the Mahanadi River on the designated tribunal, Odisha and Chhattisgarh have now expressed their willingness to solve the dispute friendly among themselves.
After both states were informed that they would have a chance to make a friendly settlement, the Mahanadi Water Dissutes Tribunal (MWDT) was chaired on Saturday (August 2, 2025) by Judge Bela M. TRIVEDI on Saturday 6th September.
“We consider it appropriate to give more time to resolve the dispute as possible and approve the tribunal about its progress in the next date,” MWDT orders.
Instructions to the Secretary
He ordered secretaries who touched that both states would remain present in court in the next date to inform the body about the progress of conversations about the settlement between the two states.
Pitambar Achary, general lawyer Odisha, issued a high -level meeting and letter by the main Minister Mohan Majhi to his counterpart Chhattisgarh Vishnu deo Sai and his response to the court, which states that the matter of the Mahanadi of the river was considered. The development was also acknowledged by the leader of Chhattisgarh.
In a letter addressed to Mr. Sai 25 July, Mr. Majhi suggested that under the leadership of the JAL Shakti Ministry, a joint committee of both states led by the Central Water Commission (CWC) could be established.
“This committee would consist of higher technical officials from Odisha and Chhattisgarh and sought to facilitate permanent dialogue and technical negotiations to achieve mutually beneficial settlement,” he said.
“I firmly believe that with our collective efforts and active cooperation between both states and the Central Water Commission, we can achieve a fair, fair and timely solution to this urgent problem. Such a solution not only brings peace and stability, but also supports greater cooperation, trust and good will between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
Chhattisgarh CM replied to letter 1.
River flow
The Mahanadi River, often described as the Odisha Rescue Rope, comes from AMARKANTAK Hills on the Bastar plateau in Chhattisgarh. It fishes up to 851 kilometers, 494 km in Odisha before emptied to the Bay of Bengal. Along its course, the river is fed numerous tributaries, branches and trays that maintain human settlements, ecosystems and various water dependent needs.
After the creation of an independent state, Chhattisgarh began to build a significant number of main, medium and small irrigation projects, including Anicuts and industrial barriers, without consultation with Odisha. It is important to realize that there is no formal agreement to share water between the two states.
Over time, ODISHA observed a significant decrease in the Mahanadi water waters in its territory and attributed it to Chhattisgarh’s extensive pre -construction and increased use of water. According to Odisha’s government, Chhattisgarh built more than 500 anicuts and 30 inches, many of them primarily for industrial use.
Odisha raised concerns that the reduced flow of the Greeks adversely affected irrigation, supplying drinking water and the ecological balance of its sensitive coastal areas. On the other hand, Chhattisgarh claims that 52.9% of the total Mahanadi River Basin – and 89.9% of the basin up to the Hiracud dam – lies on its borders, which gives it a justified entitlement to the use of water waters.
Odisha Lodges Protest
Odisha filed a protest with the Union’s government on the different use of Mahanadi water without paying attention to the concerns of the state that traditionally used water by building infrastructure based on the flow. However, the dispute failed to get serious attention.
Odisha filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court regarding the Mahanadi water dispute. At the final hearing of this action on January 23, 2018, the Supreme Court ordered the center to form a tribunal. In accordance with this, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Development of the River and the Ganges Development presented on 12 March 2018 under the Mahanadi River Water Act in 1956.
Published – 2 August 2025 20:12
