Water Crisis in India: A Saga of Federal Structure and Conflict

Author: Mr. Biswanath Padhan and Roshan Ekka

Published On: 2026-02-13

India is a country blessed with multiple cultures and vastpopulation. Rivers are the integral part of this land and worshipped as well as serve as the final source of livelihood for many. Inter-state river conflicts have now emerged as a challenge for Indian federalism. Krishna, Cauvery, Godavari, Ravi Beas and all river conflicts are the tension among the states.  Odisha and Chhattisgarh have been on war front with regard to the water distribution of Mahanadi River which runs across both the states.  Mahanadi in all those states is a matter of identity, not to withstand petty politics. River side of Mahanadi in both the states is also the industrial hub. With big dams constructed across both states, agriculture remains a core issue in the conflict. The proposed paper attempts to investigate the interstate water conflicts in the post independent India. Purposefully it looks in to the mechanisms of Indian federalism which deals with such type of conflict. The paper critically examines the issue of Mahanadi between Odisha and Chhattisgarh to relate it with the general federal structure. Federalism in India is a unique experience and its challenges are too unique. Perhaps unique redresal system is yet to emergein Indian Federalism.

Keywords- Water Crisis,Conflict, Mahanadi River, Federalism,ISWT