Ranchi/Calcutta: Chief minister Raghubar Das asked his Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee on Monday to work out an early solution to the dispute over Massanjore dam after which it was agreed that senior officers from both states would meet to hammer out a solution.

“The chief minister raised this issue in his address at the Eastern Zonal Council meeting in Calcutta. Later, he had informal discussions with Mamata. Both agreed that viable alternatives should be worked out through mutual talks. Senior officers of two states may be holding a meeting soon to discuss the issue,” said an officer at the chief minister’s secretariat.

The Massanjore Dam is in Jharkhand, but the Bengal government is its sole owner. The recent controversy is centred around the Bengal government’s decision to paint the dam walls and other adjoining constructions in blue and white, which local BJP leaders opposed.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh said all states had been asked to initiate steps to identify Rohingya and collate their biometric data before sending the list to the Centre.

The move, officials said, was to test the stance of the Bengal government, which has till now opposed deportation of Rohingya.

“A detailed guideline has been issued to states. They (the Rohingya) have to be identified and their biometric has to be done. The list (of Rohingya) has to be sent to the Centre. The Centre will take up the issue with the Myanmar government through diplomatic channels,” Singh said at the meeting of the council.

The Eastern Zonal Council is a forum of four states - Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha - headed by the Union home ministry to discuss issues common to the states and resolve possible differences between them.

Sources said Rajnath’s announcement, made in the presence of the Bengal chief minister, was significant as the Rohingya were present in Bengal.

“It is uncomfortable for the state because the Union home minister announced the guideline from a stage where Bengal chief minister was also present,” the official added. As of now, the Bengal government has not taken any step to identify the Rohingya.

Bengal shares borders with Bangladesh and because the porous frontiers are often blamed for influx, the refugee problem is unique for the state.

Among the others present were Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Modi and Odhisa finance minister Sashi Bhusan Behera.