Bhubaneswar: A critical round table discussion, jointly organised by Nadi Ghati Morcha, Rastriya Jal Biradari, and Mahanadi Bachao Andolan, on the ongoing Mahanadi River crisis and the water-sharing dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh will be held Thursday at Mayaram Surjan Lokayan Hall, Raipur.
Mahanadi, stretching over 900km and serving as a lifeline for both states, faces shrinking water availability due to climate change, unregulated industrial use, and unsustainable riverbed activities.
Experts warn that these factors are severely impacting the river’s ecosystem, livelihoods, and regional climate balance. The dispute over water sharing between the states has persisted for years, despite efforts by both the state governments and the Central government. The Mahanadi Water Dispute Tribunal has recently initiated dialogue with the two states, and the Ministry of Jal Shakti has encouraged bilateral talks to resolve the issue.
Renowned water conservationist Rajendra Singh, popularly known as ‘Jal Purush’, will preside over the discussion, which will bring together river experts, representatives of river movements, and communities dependent on the river from both states. Organisers said the outcomes of the meeting will be presented to the Chief Ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh and to the Tribunal to aid in formulating equitable water-sharing policies and restoring the health of the river. “This is not just a legal or political issue. The survival of millions, the river’s ecosystem, and the region’s environmental balance depend on collective action,” the organisers stated.