Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi said Odisha and Chhattisgarh have moved closer to a resolution of the long-pending Mahanadi river water-sharing dispute and that the dispute could be settled by Diwali, as he had earlier predicted.Majhi’s statement followed a meeting held in Delhi on Thursday in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah, which was also attended by Jal Shakti minister C R Patil and Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai and senior officials.Hailing the discussion as a potential model for resolving inter-state river disputes, the CM said, “For other states facing similar issues, this will be a model for dispute resolution. The final solution will safeguard the interests of both Odisha and Chhattisgarh.”According to officials, Shah reviewed the progress made by the Central Water Commission (CWC), taking note of the perspectives of both states and advising them to work towards an amicable solution.Majhi later told reporters in New Delhi that the CWC had been working on a framework for resolving the dispute in line with decisions taken during a meeting on July 30. “We are satisfied with the progress made over the past two months. I am optimistic that a solution can be found within the next month, as envisaged at the beginning of the discussions,” he said.The CM described the discussions as positive and cordial, saying that efforts to resolve the dispute had gained momentum after BJP came to power in both Odisha and Chhattisgarh.Describing the Mahanadi river as the lifeline of both states, Majhi said ensuring adequate water availability for irrigation, drinking water and other developmental needs remained a key concern. “I raised these issues in today’s (Thursday) meeting as well. The progress under the CWC over the last two months has been satisfactory. All relevant documents have been submitted,” he said.Majhi added a series of consultations had taken place over the past year. The chief ministers of the two states met in July and Aug 2025 to initiate discussions, while several rounds of talks were held between the chief secretaries and water resources secretaries. In July this year, another meeting was convened under Union Jal Shakti minister, where both the states agreed to work towards a resolution under the CWC framework.A technical committee under the CWC, with representatives from both Odisha and Chhattisgarh, is scheduled to meet on Oct 13. The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal is slated to hear the matter on Oct 15.
