Bhubaneswar
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday said the long-standing Mahanadi River water dispute between Chhattisgarh and Odisha is likely to be resolved soon through dialogue between the two states.
Sai, who is on a two-day visit to Odisha, met Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at his residence in Bhubaneswar. The two leaders discussed several issues concerning cooperation and development between the neighbouring states.
Speaking to reporters after arriving in Odisha, Sai said there was no reason for the dispute to continue and pointed to the BJP governments in Chhattisgarh, Odisha and at the Centre as an opportunity to settle the matter.
He said the chief ministers and senior officials of both states had recently met in New Delhi and agreed that the Central Water Commission should facilitate a resolution through mutual dialogue.
The Mahanadi dispute has remained unresolved since 2016. Odisha has alleged that construction of multiple barrages by Chhattisgarh reduced downstream water flow, affecting agriculture, fisheries and power generation. Odisha regards the Mahanadi as crucial to its economy and livelihoods.
Sai said several long-pending inter-state river water disputes were being addressed through discussions and expressed confidence that the Mahanadi issue could follow the same route.
Majhi also spoke positively about the meeting. In a post on X, he said the discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Odisha and Chhattisgarh and advancing their shared commitment to development and public welfare.
During his Odisha visit, Sai is also scheduled to visit the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar and the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
