In a significant step toward ending the long-standing deadlock over the Mahanadi River, Odisha’s newly formed all-party high-level committee held its first meeting on Tuesday, December 23.
Chaired by Deputy Chief Minister K. V. Singh Deo, the committee reached a consensus to pursue an amicable settlement through direct negotiations with Chhattisgarh. However, members emphasized that this diplomatic push will not come at the cost of the state’s ongoing legal battle in the Mahanadi Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT).
The meeting was attended by all eight members, including three ministers — Suresh Pujari (Revenue), Prithiviraj Harichandan (Law) and Sampad Chandra Swain (Industries) — and MLAs Saroj Kumar Pradhan (BJP), Niranjan Pujari (BJD) and Sofia Firdous (Congress).
Senior BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra also took part in the meeting virtually.
“All eight members of the committee agreed to resolve the dispute through negotiation. This is the responsibility of both state governments. The Odisha government will guard all interests of the state while resolving the matter,” Singh Deo told reporters after the meeting.
The Deputy CM further stated that the members were briefed on the Odisha government’s stand on the issue, the discussions so far held with Chhattisgarh and also the matter pending in the Mahanadi Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT).
The members will be provided with documents before the next meeting, he said.
Taking to X, Singh Deo said, “Today, I chaired the first meeting of the High-Level Committee on the Mahanadi dispute… We engaged in constructive deliberations to address the long-standing concerns. The Mahanadi is a lifeline for millions, and it is our collective duty to safeguard its flow with fairness and foresight for generations to come.”
BJD MLA and former minister Niranjan Pujari and Congress’s Sofia Firdous advocated for involving public stakeholders and activists to ensure transparency.
After the meeting, Pujari said, “We opined that an all-party meeting should be convened, stakeholders involved and public informed on what measures are being taken to resolve the dispute through negotiation. So far, there has been no such instance of river water dispute being resolved through negotiation. It has all along been done through courts. Therefore, we need to strengthen our fight in the tribunal, also at the same time.”
Sofia Firdous said, “The people of the state should be informed. Many activists are fighting for Odisha’s interests in the Mahanadi dispute. They should also be involved.”
ଆଜି ଭୁବନେଶ୍ବର ସ୍ଥିତ ରାଜୀବ ଭବନ ଠାରେ ମହାନଦୀ ଜଳ ବିବାଦ ନେଇ ଏକ ଉଚ୍ଚସ୍ତରୀୟ କମିଟି ବୈଠକ ରେ ଯୋଗ ଦେଇ ଏହାର ଅଧ୍ୟକ୍ଷତା କରିଥିଲି।ଏହି ବୈଠକରେ ମହାନଦୀକୁ ନେଇ ରହିଥିବା ବିବାଦକୁ କିପରି ଭାବେ ସମାଧାନ କରାଯିବ ସେ ଉପରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଆଲୋଚନା ଅନୁଷ୍ଠିତ ହୋଇଥିଲା।
🌊 Today, I chaired the first meeting of the… pic.twitter.com/SNT0KNOldW
— Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo (Modiji Ka Parivar) (@KVSinghDeo1) December 23, 2025
Mahanadi dispute
The dispute over Mahanadi water sharing between Odisha and Chhattisgarh dates back to 2018, when the MWDT was formed after Odisha accused Chhattisgarh of obstructing the river’s free flow through upstream barrage constructions.
With the tribunal’s tenure currently set to end in April 2026, there is a renewed urgency for both states to find common ground. The tribunal recently suggested that Chhattisgarh also form an inter-ministerial committee to facilitate these bilateral talks.
The next meeting of the all-party committee shall be convened in January 2026 to further consolidate the position of Odisha and to advance the process towards an amicable settlement of the Mahanadi water issues, an official release said.
The Mahanadi River is vital for Odisha as millions depend on it for irrigation, drinking water, and industry.
