Mahanadi Water Dispute Talks
Amit Shah to lead crucial Mahanadi water dispute talks between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair an October 1 meeting with the chief ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh to seek progress on their long-running Mahanadi River water-sharing dispute. The talks follow recent discussions between the state leaders and technical consultations involving the Central Water Commission, which has submitted records of earlier negotiations to the tribunal hearing the case. Odisha officials say dialogue could lead to a mutually acceptable settlement, while the tribunal retains authority over the dispute’s final outcome. Odisha has raised concerns about upstream barrages and projects in Chhattisgarh affecting water flows, especially during the non-monsoon season.
Key Points
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The October 1 meeting is expected to include not only both chief ministers but also the states’ chief secretaries and water-resources chief engineers, who will present their positions.
2
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said after meeting Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on September 20 that there was no major issue between the states over Mahanadi waters; he also said officials had agreed to accept Central Water Commission recommendations if beneficial to both sides.
3
Jointly submitted data estimates the Mahanadi’s annual water availability at 62.36 million acre-feet, with 33.17 MAF attributed to Odisha and 28.94 MAF to Chhattisgarh; estimates vary by dependability, from 61.12 MAF at 50% to 37.25 MAF at 90%.
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Odisha’s Advocate General said a regulatory body for the Mahanadi could potentially be created to decide water-sharing, while emphasizing that the tribunal would make the final decision.
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The states’ July 30 meeting was chaired by Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil and included officials from the Central Water Commission and both states; the October 1 talks are part of an ongoing effort to develop a concrete settlement roadmap.
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