Understanding the dynamics of water politics: A narrative of the Mahanadi River water dispute

Abstract

Water Politics is one of the core elements in the inter-state river water disputes in India. It is a complex issue involving power dynamics surrounding the management, allocation, and use of river water resources. Political leaders also used this issue in their constituencies to gain political mileage. Hence, the problem emerged as an issue in the Indian Federal system. One such dispute is the Mahanadi River Water Dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, where Politics are unswervingly involved. The conflict is rooted in competing demands for water resources driven by agriculture and industry. There is a political game surrounding the water issue, where the nasty politics revolve around the BJP in Chhattisgarh and the BJD in Odisha. The Mahanadi water issue is complicated by the political dynamics of political competitiveness, including disagreements between the political parties of the disputing states, questions of vote bank politics, and the politics of assembly debates between the opposing parties and the ruling government in the Odisha Legislative Assembly. It highlighted the challenges of the conflicting states and the Central and also put forward several key recommendations for the healthy resolution of the Mahanadi water row.