Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will kick off the second-phase Mahanadi Suraksha Abhiyan on May 16.
This was informed by BJD leaders at a press briefing here on Wednesday.
“The chief minister will kick off Mahanadi Suraksha Abhiyan from Jharsuguda and Bargarh districts at 10 am. The campaign will culminate at Paradip. We request the students, youth, farmers, women and fishermen communities as well as all social organisations, political parties, think-tanks and above all the people of Odisha to actively participate in the mass awareness rally,” BJD vice-president Prasanna Acharya told mediapersons.
Stating that the mass awareness rally would begin from Jharsuguda and Bargarh districts, Acharya said it would pass through blocks and towns of 45 Assembly constituencies of 15 districts.
“The grim realities of the Mahanadi river would be showcased at public meetings, roadside meetings and cultural programmes in the villages and towns on the routes of the rally. Besides, booklets and leaflets would be distributed among people to apprise them of the conspiracy by the Chhattisgarh government to dry up Mahanadi which has been exposed by the Odisha government and its terrible repercussions on the people of Odisha,” he informed.
Acharya further said the chief minister, in his address at a workshop on Mahanadi issue on April 22 had announced that the people of Odisha under the leadership of the BJD would launch the second-phase agitation to justify their legitimate right over Mahanadi.
“While the state government has waged a legal battle for Mahanadi, the people of Odisha are fighting for this major issue in a peaceful and democratic manner,” he pointed out.
He said the detailed schedule of the programme would be made known to the people within a week.
Among others, former minister Debi Prasad Mishra, BJD general secretary Sanjay Dasburma and Atanu Sabyasachi also spoke.
