Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to establish an Inter-Ministerial Committee to address ongoing disputes with neighboring states. This decision was made at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at Lok Seva Bhavan, where officials discussed long-standing inter-state conflicts over resources and boundaries.
The primary focus of the meeting was on the Polavaram, Bansadhara, Mahanadi, and Kotia disputes, with the Chief Minister urging officials to find effective solutions. The proposed committee will aim to foster cooperative negotiations with neighboring states and to protect Odisha’s interests in these matters.
Key officials in attendance included Law, Works, and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan; Advocate General Pitambar Acharya; Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja; Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Nikunj Bihari Dhal; Development Commissioner Anu Garg; Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh; and Principal Secretary, Law Department Manas Ranjan Barik.
Odisha has been engaged in several water-related disputes with neighboring states, such as the Bansadhara River Water Dispute with Andhra Pradesh and the Mahanadi Water Disputes with Chhattisgarh. The newly-formed committee will seek to address these issues in a structured and diplomatic manner, working toward amicable resolutions.