Bhubaneswar: Ahead of Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal’s second phase visit from April 29 to May 3, Chhattisgarh has opened gates of Kalma Barrage purportedly to cover the dry spots of Mahanadi at Sonepur, Nayagarh and Boudh in Odisha.
“They started opening the gates only in the second week of April. 17 gates were opened yesterday and 20 today. The Hirakud Dam is recording 1000-1500 cusec inflow of water,” said EIC, Water Resources, Bhakta Ranjan Mohanty.
He informed that Odisha had written to Chhattisgarh about the drop in the inflow of water on numerous occasions. “There is also a probability that the gates were opened since the tribunal is visiting the neighbouring state this week,” he said, adding that the team might visit Odisha on May 10.
It is being said the gates have been opened during non-monsoon season to tilt the tribunal’s decision in its favour by giving it a picture of fair sharing of Mahanadi water.
However, Chhattisgarh had closed all 66 gates of the barrage along the border of Jharsuguda district, apparently to conserve water upstream, which severely affected the flow of water to the lower areas ahead of the peak summer.
During tribunal’s last visit, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had stirred a row by mentioning about construction of a dam over the river at Surguja and barrages (in other places). “We think that we should get permission for the same as the entire water is going to Odisha,” Baghel had said.
In response, BJD MLA Debi Prasad Mishra later stated that Odisha was the rightful owner of two-thirds of Mahanadi water and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had urged Chhattisgarh to release water in the lean period, between November and May.
He also targeted Union Jal Shakti Minister (MoS) Bishweswar Tudu over his statement that the Centre’s permission was not needed for construction of barrages, as built by Chhattisgarh, to irrigate 2000 hectares of land and Odisha government was creating drama since the election was round the corner while it could have also constructed small barrages on Mahanadi.
According to reports, Chhattisgarh’s water resources department’s future developmental activities will depend on the outcome of the award of the tribunal, in terms of the quantum of water allocated to the state, which will be valid until 2051.
