Bhubaneswar, Jan 23: The Odisha government on Friday held a key meeting on the Mahanadi Water Dispute and resolved to expedite for an amicable settlement of the issue.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo, and attended by Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, and Chief Secretary Anu Garg wherein they reviewed legal, administrative and tribunal-related aspects of the long-standing dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Underlining the BJD’s inaction on the Mahanadi Water Disputes and its failure in protecting the state’s larger interest, Revenue Minister Pujari while interacted with the media person said, no sincere effort was made by the previous government to redress the issue, either amicably or legally.

With a scathing attack on the BJD leadership, Pujari said that the Chhattisgarh government has made at least 500 barrages on the Mahanadi during 2014-22 during the BJD reign. It’s for laying no stress on the state’s pivotal issue by the authorities then.

Pujari also alleged that the former Naveen-led Odisha government has not meticulously performed in the Mahanadi Water Distribution Tribunal’s (MWDT) during its 60 hearings. It’s because, only 1 witness was deposed out of 21 persons listed for verification whereas no intime affidavit was filed in this connection.

Worth mentioning, the MWDT’s term reportedly ends in April 13, 2026 while no fresh submissions have been issued by the allied states seeking extension of its tenure

However, there is only one hearing in the MWDT, that’s scheduled on February 7, which would prove phenomenal for the state.