Odisha forms a high-level committee led by Deputy CM KV Singh Deo to resolve the Mahanadi River dispute with Chhattisgarh through policy guidance and technical cooperation
OdishaPlus Bureau
Odisha’s Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, has established a high-level committee chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo to provide policy guidance for the technical and administrative efforts aimed at resolving the Mahanadi River water dispute with Chhattisgarh.
A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office indicated that, considering the ongoing discussions and proceedings before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal by the Water Resources Department of the State Government, along with the complexity and sensitivity surrounding the Mahanadi water issue, the government has formed this high-level committee under Singh Deo’s leadership.
“This committee will assess all pertinent aspects related to Mahanadi water and offer essential policy guidance to the technical and administrative initiatives currently in progress within the State,” the statement noted.
The committee also includes other members such as Suresh Pujari, the Revenue and Disaster Management Minister; Prithviraj Harichandan, the Law Minister; Sampad Chandra Swain, the Industries Minister; Saroj Kumar Pradhan, the Government Chief Whip; Niranjan Pujari (MLA); Jaynarayan Mishra (MLA); and Sophia Firdaus (MLA).
Previously, the Odisha Government stated that both Odisha and Chhattisgarh had committed to working sincerely and amicably towards a mutually beneficial resolution through dialogue and cooperation.
According to the statement, technical committees led by the Engineer-in-Chiefs of both States will convene weekly to identify and address critical issues.
Members of the high-level committee, including MLAs, believe that a political resolution of inter-state disputes is typically quicker, whereas pursuing a court or tribunal route tends to be more time-consuming.
The Mahanadi River, often referred to as the lifeline of Odisha, originates from the Amarkantak hills in the Bastar Plateau of Chhattisgarh. It has a total length of 851 kilometers, with 494 kilometers flowing through Odisha before it empties into the Bay of Bengal.
