States » EastPosted at: Oct 28 2026 8:10PM


MBA demands public disclosure of CWC report on Mahanadi water sharing formula

Bhubaneswar, Oct 28 (UNI) The Mahanadi Bachao Andolan (MBA) has demanded immediate public disclosure of the Central Water Commission (CWC) report on the proposed sharing of Mahanadi river water between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, raising concerns over the state’s long-term water security, agricultural needs and ecological sustainability.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, MBA convener Sudarshan Das and other members called upon the Centre and the Odisha government to make the complete report public, along with the supporting data, technical assessments, calculations, recommendations and scientific methodology used to arrive at the proposed water-sharing formula.
Citing a newspaper report, Das said Odisha had reportedly been proposed an allocation of 24 million acre-feet (MAF) of water, while Chhattisgarh would receive 22 MAF. The organisation sought a detailed explanation of the scientific data, assessment criteria and principles underpinning the proposed allocations.
The MBA questioned whether the assessment had adequately factored in changing river flows, rainfall patterns, the impact of climate change, upstream water consumption and the future water requirements of both states. It stressed that a transparent and scientifically sound assessment was essential before any final decision was taken on the sharing of the river’s waters.
Emphasising Odisha’s dependence on the Mahanadi, Das said the actual availability of water during summer and other non-monsoon months was as important as the total annual allocation. He maintained that annual figures alone could not provide a complete picture of the water available to the state when demand was high and river flows were reduced.
The organisation also called for a reliable and enforceable mechanism to ensure adequate downstream water flow into Odisha. Such a mechanism, it said, was crucial to safeguarding agricultural activities, drinking water supplies, the livelihoods of fishing communities and the ecological balance of the Mahanadi delta.
Seeking greater accountability in the ongoing negotiations between the two states, the MBA demanded that the minutes of discussions, the positions taken by both governments and the terms of any proposed agreement be placed in the public domain.
It further urged the Odisha government to convene an all-party meeting and consult water experts, farmers’ organisations and communities affected by the proposed arrangement before arriving at a final decision.
The MBA maintained that any water-sharing agreement must safeguard Odisha’s legitimate interests and remain consistent with the existing legal framework and the proceedings of the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal. It called on the state government to disclose the scientific and legal basis of the proposed formula and facilitate an open public discussion on its implications.
Describing the Mahanadi as far more than a matter of water-allocation calculations, the organisation said the river was a lifeline for Odisha, supporting its agriculture, economy, natural environment and cultural heritage.
“Odisha’s people cannot be kept in the dark while decisions are taken about the future of the Mahanadi,” Das said, emphasising that transparency was a democratic responsibility and not a concession by the government.
The MBA warned that it would continue its campaign until the CWC report, the supporting data and the basis of the proposed water-sharing arrangement were made public.
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Tags: #MBA demands public disclosure of CWC report on Mahanadi water sharing formula
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