An important meeting is being held in New Delhi today under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to resolve the long-pending Mahanadi water dispute between Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi are attending the meeting.

Akashvani correspondent reports that the dispute over sharing of Mahanadi waters between Chhattisgarh and Odisha has remained unresolved for several years. Odisha had requested the Central Government in November 2016 to set up a tribunal to resolve the dispute.

After talks failed to resolve the issue, the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal was constituted in March 2018. Odisha says that water projects being built in the upper reaches of the Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh affect the flow of water to Odisha during the non-monsoon season.

Chhattisgarh, on the other hand, has maintained that it needs to use its share of water for irrigation, industrial and domestic needs. In recent months, the Centre has stressed the need for a solution through talks, technical cooperation and mutual agreement between the two states.

In July, the two Chief Ministers met under the chairmanship of the Union Jal Shakti Minister. Both states have given a written assurance to the Central Water Commission that any decision taken by the Commission in the larger interest of both states will be acceptable to them.