Bhubaneswar, September 20 (Daily Kiran) : Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai expressed optimism on Sunday about resolving the ongoing water dispute between Chhattisgarh and Odisha concerning the Mahanadi River.
During his two-day visit to Odisha, CM Sai met with Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at his residence in Bhubaneswar. The two leaders discussed several key issues during their meeting.
Speaking to the media, CM Sai stated, “There is no dispute over the Mahanadi’s water. Both Chhattisgarh and Odisha have BJP-led governments at the state and central levels, so this matter will be resolved soon. Long-standing inter-state river water disputes are also being settled through mutual agreement, so the Mahanadi water issue will be resolved shortly.”
He further revealed that the two chief ministers had recently convened a meeting in New Delhi with senior officials from both states. In this meeting, they agreed to involve the Central Water Commission to facilitate discussions aimed at resolving the Mahanadi water dispute.
The conflict over the distribution of Mahanadi’s water has persisted since 2016. Odisha accuses Chhattisgarh of constructing at least eight dams on its side, which has reduced water flow downstream. This reduction has negatively impacted agriculture, fisheries, and electricity generation in Odisha, which regards the Mahanadi as its “lifeline” for these sectors.
Following the meeting, CM Majhi took to social media platform X to share his thoughts: “I was pleased to welcome Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Dev Sai to my residence. We had meaningful discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation between Odisha and Chhattisgarh and advancing our shared commitment to the development and welfare of our people.”
After his meeting with CM Majhi, CM Sai is scheduled to visit the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar and later offer prayers at the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
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