Bhubaneswar: A day after Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi pitched for an amicable settlement of the Mahanadi water dispute with Chhattisgarh, the issue triggered a controversy with BJD president Naveen Patnaik raising certain ‘crucial’ questions.
Naveen, who is the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Odisha Assembly, raised questions about discussions held at the high-level meeting chaired by CM on the Mahanadi water dispute with Chhattisgarh.
Seeking to know about the nature of ‘mutual agreement’ discussed at the meeting on Wednesday, the former Chief Minister and demanded transparency and accountability in the government’s negotiations.
Voicing apprehension that the state government might be compromising Odisha’s water rights, Naveen wondered if the government is preparing to abandon the legal fight before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal. With only eight days left until the next Tribunal hearing on August 2, the BJD chief questioned the government’s silence and lack of transparency in the matter.
“Is Odisha withdrawing from the legal route? Will the State continue pursuing the case before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal? Or is the government preparing to abandon the legal fight?” asked Naveen.
Noting that Mahanadi is not just a river but the soul of Odisha, he said the government must take stakeholders, political parties, and the people into confidence. He recalled the state’s long-standing efforts to constitute the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal and expressed concern that the legal battle might be quietly weakened.
The BJD supremo demanded that the state government convene an all-party meeting to explain the kind of compromise being considered or already decided with the BJP government in Chhattisgarh.
Seeking to know whether Odisha is withdrawing from the legal route, Naveen wondered if the government is secretly negotiating a settlement that might undermine Odisha’s water rights.
