The long-standing Mahanadi river water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh is expected to be resolved within three months, with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressing hope for a settlement before Diwali. The optimistic timeline follows a tripartite meeting in New Delhi attended by Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil and the chief ministers of both states. The meeting aimed to negotiate an amicable solution to the conflict, which has been a source of tension between the neighboring states. Majhi stated that the resolution could come before the festival of Diwali, which falls later this year. The dispute centers on the sharing of Mahanadi river waters, with Odisha accusing Chhattisgarh of constructing dams upstream that reduce water flow to its downstream regions. The central government's involvement marks a renewed push to end the decades-old disagreement.