BJD Seeks Interim Arrangement To Ensure Adequate Mahanadi Water For Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Accusing Chhattisgarh of arbitrarily stopping water flow in Mahanadi river during lean period, the ruling BJD on Wednesday sought an interim arrangement to ensure availability of adequate water in Odisha.

Speaking to reporters in Bhubaneswar, senior BJD leader and former Minister Debiprasad Mishra said he raised the issue in the Assembly on the occasion of World Water Day to press for steps to ensure that Odisha gets its proper share of Mahanadi water.

The senior BJD leader said that the Mahanadi, which passes through 15-16 out of Odisha’s 30 districts, has dried up due to check dams constructed by Chhattisgarh government at the upstream of the inter-state river.

Stating that Chhattisgarh is releasing excess water during monsoon flooding the lower catchment areas in Odisha, he said the neighbouring state stops water flow during the lean period between November and May.

Maintaining that over 2.5 crore people of Odisha are dependent on Mahanadi water, Mishra said such arbitrary and illegal action by Chhattiswgarh has been causing enormous hardship for the people, including farmers.

The senior BJD leader described the Congress-led UPA and the BJP-led NDA as two side of the same coin. “Both the UPA and NDA government have worked against Odisha’s interest for which Chhattisgarh has been obstructing free flow of water to downstream,” Mishra alleged. He said he demanded a ruling from the chair for a special discussion on the Mahanadi water crisis.

The Speaker in his ruling asked the Water Resources Minister to make a statement on the water crisis in the Mahanadi river.

Stating that the matter is now pending before the tribunal, the senior BJD leader said some interim arrangement should be made to ensure that Odisha gets adequate share of Mahanadi river water.