Union Minister CR Paatil chaired a meeting with the Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh and Odisha to facilitate an amicable settlement of the Mahanadi Water Dispute, emphasizing dialogue, technical cooperation, and cooperative federalism.
The meeting marks an important step in the ongoing efforts of the Government of India to facilitate an amicable settlement of the Mahanadi Water Dispute through dialogue, technical cooperation and cooperative federalism. Over the past several years, extensive deliberations and efforts have been made at various levels regarding the sharing of the waters of the Mahanadi.
Following the request of the State of Odisha, the Centre constituted the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) on March 12, 2018 under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956. The Central Government also extended the tenure of the Tribunal to ensure that all parties were provided adequate opportunity to present their views. Recently, the process has gained further momentum with both the States demonstrating their willingness to pursue an amicable settlement through mutual cooperation and technical consultations.
The meeting also took note of the progress made by the Joint Technical Committee, which has held a number of meetings and achieved consensus on several technical issues. It also noted the constitution of the expanded Technical Committee under the chairmanship of the Chairman, Central Water Commission and comprising representatives of the Governments of Chhattisgarh and Odisha, whose first meeting was held on July 29 to take forward the remaining technical consultations.
Emphasis on Dialogue and Cooperation
Welcoming the Chief Ministers, CR Paatil, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, observed that the Mahanadi is a lifeline for millions of people in both the States. He emphasised that dialogue, technical cooperation and mutual trust are the most effective means of achieving an equitable, sustainable and mutually acceptable solution. The Union Minister acknowledged the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in bringing states together to resolve long-standing water disputes.
The Union Minister further highlighted that recent milestones, including the signing of the Yamuna Water Project Agreement, the resolution of issues relating to the implementation of the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Award, and the consensus on the Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (MPKC) Link Project, underscore that even the most complex inter-State water disputes can be resolved through sustained dialogue, cooperative federalism, and consensus-based decision-making.
Commitment to a Long-Term Framework
Both the Chief Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to continue the ongoing technical consultations in a constructive spirit and appreciated the facilitation provided by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Central Water Commission.
Concluding the meeting, CR Paatil reiterated that the objective is not merely to resolve the present dispute but to establish a long-term, equitable and sustainable framework for the management of the Mahanadi Basin. He expressed confidence that the continued constructive engagement between the two States would pave the way for a mutually acceptable and enduring settlement. (ANI)
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