Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today put emphasis upon an amicable solution to the Mahanadi water dispute with neighbouring Chhattisgarh.

The Chief Minister pleaded for an early solution to the water dispute while presiding over a high-level meeting on the issue at the Lok Seva Bhawan in the capital city here.

“The Mahanadi river water dispute with Chhattisgarh can be resolved through discussions between the governments of the two states with support from the Union Government. The Central Water Commission (CWC) can provide technical assistance in this regard,” said the Chief Minister.

Majhi had earlier held discussions regarding the water dispute with his Chhattisgarh counterpart Vishnu Deo Sai at the conference of water resources ministers in Rajasthan in February and a bilateral meeting with Sai in the capital city here in March this year.

Both the leaders had then emphasized upon an amicable solution to the Mahanadi water dispute. “Since then, the senior officials from both the states have been holding discussions for a resolution to the inter-state dispute,” said the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

Advocate General Pitambar Acharya, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Principal Secretary to CM Saswat Mishra and senior officials of the Water Resources Department were present at the meeting.