Bhubaneswar: A high-level meeting, scheduled to be chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday, is being viewed by Odisha as a major step towards resolving the Mahanadi water dispute.The development comes nearly two months after CM Mohan Charan Majhi expressed optimism that the issue could be settled amicably through dialogue by Diwali.The meeting will be attended by Majhi and Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai, and is being seen by Odisha authorities as a significant breakthrough in efforts to end the long-running interstate river dispute. Union Jal Shakti minister C R Patil will also participate in the discussions. Majhi is scheduled to travel to New Delhi on Thursday and return the same evening, sources said.Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari said Odisha govt remains committed to resolving the issue through dialogue, citing the earlier meeting between the chief ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh chaired by Patil as evidence of both states’ willingness to find a solution.“The resolution will safeguard the interests of both Odisha and Chhattisgarh, particularly those of farmers dependent on the Mahanadi waters,” Pujari said.Odisha advocate general Pitambar Acharya said the proposed meeting could prove to be a major milestone in resolving the dispute. “Odisha has always maintained that the issue can be settled through mutual discussions and consensus,” he said.Ahead of the meeting, the technical committee comprising officials from Odisha and Chhattisgarh held discussions on Monday, with its next meeting scheduled for Oct 13. The panel has been examining key issues, including the water-sharing formula, river water availability, upstream projects, basin management and reconciliation of hydrological data, while seeking point-by-point consensus on contentious matters.Officials said the committee is carrying out assessments of existing and proposed water utilisation, as well as hydrological conditions during monsoon and non-monsoon periods, based on data shared by both states and deliberations held during the second meeting of the working group.Centre constituted the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) in March 2018 under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, after Odisha approached Supreme Court in Dec 2016 over Chhattisgarh’s upstream projects. Since coming to power, the BJP govt in Odisha has favoured a negotiated settlement, arguing that prolonged litigation could delay a resolution.In April, Centre extended the tribunal’s tenure by nine months until Jan 13, 2027. The tribunal is scheduled to take up the matter again on Oct 15.