Mahanadi Water Dispute: Renewed Efforts for Resolution

Context

The long-running dispute over the sharing of Mahanadi river water between Odisha and Chhattisgarh has received fresh attention. Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently held a meeting in New Delhi with Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. The meeting was aimed at finding a way forward in a dispute that has remained unresolved for years.

The Mahanadi River

• The Mahanadi rises in the Sihawa hills of Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari district. From there, it travels through Chhattisgarh and Odisha and eventually meets the Bay of Bengal.
• The river is particularly important for Odisha. A large number of people depend on it directly or indirectly for farming, drinking water and other economic activities. The Hirakud Dam is one of the most important projects built on the river and has a major role in irrigation, flood management and power generation.
• The basin is spread across several States, although Chhattisgarh and Odisha account for most of it.

Why Are Odisha and Chhattisgarh Disagreeing?

• The issue became more complicated after Chhattisgarh was formed as a separate State in 2000.
• Chhattisgarh is located upstream, while Odisha receives the river water downstream. Naturally, the two States have different concerns. Chhattisgarh wants to use the river to meet its growing irrigation, industrial and domestic requirements. Odisha, on the other hand, wants sufficient water to continue flowing downstream, especially during the dry months.

• Odisha’s Concern

  • Odisha has objected to the construction of barrages and other water-related projects upstream in Chhattisgarh.
  • The State has particularly raised concerns about the Kalma barrage. According to Odisha, such projects can reduce the amount of water reaching the Hirakud reservoir during the non-monsoon period.
  • This matters because the water available during these months is important for irrigation, drinking-water supply and maintaining the river ecosystem.

• Chhattisgarh’s Position

  • Chhattisgarh has a different view of the matter. It argues that its projects are meant to meet the needs of its own population and economy.
  • The State has maintained that it is using the water available within its basin and needs adequate water for irrigation, industries and domestic consumption.
  • Thus, the disagreement is not only about a particular barrage or dam. At its core is the question of how the available river water should be shared between an upstream and a downstream State.

The Data Problem

• Another difficulty has been the lack of agreement over water-flow data.
• Both sides have had differences over estimates relating to the river’s average annual flow and the quantity of water that can actually be used. When the basic figures themselves are disputed, reaching agreement on a sharing formula becomes difficult.
• This makes reliable and commonly accepted hydrological data especially important.

Role of the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal

• Attempts at resolving the matter through discussions did not produce a settlement. Odisha subsequently approached the Supreme Court.
• In March 2018, the Centre constituted the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
• The tribunal was created to examine the claims of both States and determine the water-sharing issue. Its tenure has subsequently been extended, with the present deadline extending to January 2027.

Constitutional and Legal Framework

• The Constitution divides responsibilities relating to water between the Centre and the States.
• State List, Entry 17 covers matters such as water supply, irrigation, canals, drainage and water storage, subject to constitutional provisions.
• At the same time, Union List, Entry 56 gives Parliament powers concerning the regulation and development of inter-State rivers and river valleys.
• Article 262 deals specifically with disputes concerning waters of inter-State rivers. Parliament has used this constitutional provision to create the legal framework for such disputes.
• The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 provides for the establishment of tribunals when negotiations between States fail.

Why the Recent Meeting Matters

• The latest meeting creates another opportunity for the two States to look for a negotiated solution.
• A particularly important point is the willingness to consider technical assessments associated with the Central Water Commission. If both sides agree on the underlying data, discussions about actual water allocation can become more meaningful.
• For a river shared by different States, political dialogue alone cannot solve everything. Technical information, legal mechanisms and regular communication have to work together.

Way Forward

• Common Data Platform: Both States could maintain a common system for recording rainfall, reservoir storage, river discharge and water utilisation. Making such information available to both sides in real time could reduce disagreements over figures.
• Basin-Level Planning: The Mahanadi should be viewed as one river basin. Planning irrigation, industries, reservoirs and environmental needs separately at the State level can create conflicts. A basin-level approach can provide a broader picture.
• Protect Ecological Flow: Water allocation should not focus only on agriculture and industry. A minimum flow is also necessary to maintain the river ecosystem and support communities dependent on the river.
• Keep Dialogue Open: Court and tribunal proceedings have an important legal role, but regular communication between Odisha and Chhattisgarh can help address new issues before they become another major dispute.

Conclusion

• The Mahanadi dispute shows how difficult it can be to manage a river shared by different States. The requirements of the upstream State cannot simply be separated from the needs of the downstream State.
• A workable settlement will therefore depend on trusted data, continuous dialogue and sustainable use of the river. The present effort can provide an opportunity to move beyond years of disagreement and develop a water-sharing arrangement that takes the interests of both States and the river ecosystem into account.

Source: The Hindu

UPSC Practice Question 

Q. Discuss the key issues involved in the Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Suggest measures for its cooperative resolution.

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