Published Paper Details:

Water as a vital natural resource is intrinsically linked to life, livelihoods, human well-being, and ecological sustainability. Over time, popular struggles and rights-based movements have contributed significantly to recognizing water as essential to the rights to life, health, and livelihood. Water sustains human existence through domestic consumption, agriculture, industry, and ecosystem services. However, the unequal distribution and utilization of water resources, particularly between agriculture and industry or between upstream and downstream riparian states often generate interstate tensions and conflicts. The Mahanadi water conflict represents one such significant interstate conflict in contemporary India. The water dispute primarily emerged due to the construction of barrages and water-diversion projects by the upstream (Chhattisgarh) in the upper catchment area of the river, which raised concerns in the downstream by Odisha over declining water flow, ecological imbalance, and threats to agriculture and livelihoods. Consequently, the issue evolved beyond a resource-sharing disagreement into a politically sensitive interstate dispute involving competing developmental priorities, regional interests, and questions of water justice. The riparian states assert their respective water rights from the perspectives of basic human needs, ecological sustainability, livelihood protection, and socio-cultural dependence on the river. In this context, the conflict reflects broader debates surrounding the concepts of "right," "need," and "want" in relation to natural resource governance and water allocation. These concepts are central to understanding the socio-economic and political implications of water distribution and the competing claims over river resources. This paper examines the complex nature of the ongoing Mahanadi water conflict through the lens of political ecology and water rights discourse. It analyses the theoretical foundations of the conflict and explores how developmental aspirations, ecological concerns, and interstate politics shape the discourse on water governance. The study also highlights the significant roles of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), environmental groups, and local communities in advocating for equitable water rights and sustainable river management. Furthermore, the paper identifies the major challenges in resolving the conflict and proposes measures to promote cooperative federalism, sustainable water governance, and equitable sharing of river resources.