Mahanadi water dispute: Tribunal asks Odisha, Chhattisgarh to hold talks; resolution possible in two months, says Odisha AG

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JULY 23, 2026

In a significant breakthrough in the decades-old Mahanadi water dispute, the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal on Thursday directed Odisha and Chhattisgarh to initiate conciliatory talks under the mediation of the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, raising hopes of an amicable resolution within the next two months.

The Tribunal, during the latest hearing, advised both states to engage in mutual discussions to resolve their differences over the sharing of Mahanadi river waters instead of prolonging legal proceedings. The Central Water Commission and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti have been entrusted with facilitating the dialogue between the two states.

Speaking after the hearing, Odisha Advocate General Pitambar Acharya expressed optimism over the Tribunal's directive.

"The Tribunal has advised both states to hold conciliatory talks. The CWC and the Ministry of Jal Shakti will act as mediators. There is a strong possibility that a formula for resolution will emerge within two months," Acharya said.

The Tribunal's intervention is being viewed as a crucial turning point in one of eastern India's most contentious inter-state river disputes. For years, the Mahanadi water-sharing issue has remained a politically sensitive subject, triggering repeated confrontations between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over the construction of barrages and the allocation of river water.

The next hearing of the Tribunal has been scheduled for August 21, when it will review the progress made in the mediation process and assess whether both states have moved closer to a consensus.

Legal and policy experts believe the Tribunal's latest initiative reflects a shift from adversarial litigation to collaborative dispute resolution. If the mediation succeeds, it could not only bring an end to years of legal uncertainty but also lay the foundation for a sustainable and cooperative framework for water management between the two neighbouring states.

With the Centre stepping in as a facilitator, political observers believe the coming weeks could prove decisive in resolving a dispute that has long influenced the political discourse and water security concerns in Odisha.