Mahanadi Issue: Stay On All Illegal Constructions Our Top Priority, Says Minister

Bhubaneswar: The priority of the Odisha government would be a stay on all illegal construction of dams and barrages on Mahanadi river by the Chhattisgarh government, said Water Resources minister Niranjan Pujari.

Participating in a discussion on Mahanadi issue during the zero hour in the State Assembly on Friday, the minister informed the members about the unilateral decision of the Chhattisgarh government in the construction of projects on Mahanadi.

“Our next course of action would be to insist the Centre to specify the terms of reference (ToR) for the functioning of the Mahanadi tribunal formed by it as per the directive of the Supreme Court with immediate effect,” he pointed out.

In his reply, Speaker Pradip Amat said the Centre would be apprised of the consensus of the State Assembly on Mahanadi issue.

Earlier in the day, making their statements in the House, BJD member Sanjay Dasburma and government chief whip Amar Prasad Satpathy said out of a total stretch of 851 km of river Mahanadi, 494 km passes through Odisha. But the Chhattisgarh government without informing the Odisha government has been constructing dams and barrages on the river.

“Though the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in its order on July 26 last year had strictly asked the Chhattisgarh government not to construct any dam and barrage on the river, the latter, in gross violation of the order, has secretly floated tender for construction of a project on the river at Mohamela at a cost of Rs 75 crore. Though the Water Resources department of the Odisha government has brought the matter to the notice of the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Supreme Court has directed the Chhattisgarh government to strictly adhere to the NGT order, the Centre is still supporting the neighbouring government,” Satpathy said.

In his statement, Dasburma said due to illegal construction of dams and barrages, about two-third population of 15 districts of Odisha are going to be severely affected as the non-monsoon water flow of Mahanadi into Hirakud dam has fallen by 40 percent resulting in 20 percent shortfall in hydropower generation.

“The Chhattisgarh government has paid no heed to the order by the NGT and the Supreme Court as it is going on to construction another project at Mohamela. We strongly condemn the modus operandi of the neighbouring state and urge the Centre to apprise the Odisha government of the terms of reference of the newly constituted Mahanadi tribunal to stop the Chhattisgarh government from indulging in such illegal activities,” he pointed out.

Leader of the Opposition Narasingh Mishra said both the Centre and the Chhattisgarh government have betrayed Odisha and its people and the step they have taken on Mahanadi issue has even made the order of the Supreme Court defunct. Both of them are deliberately delaying in such a manner that it will not be admissible to the tribunal.

On the other hand, criticizing the state government, leader of the BJP legislature party KV Singhdeo said the former is trying to politicize the Mahanadi issue.

“To address the Mahanadi issue, an all-party meeting was convened and as per the decision taken at the meeting, two House committees were constituted, one under the chairmanship of the chief minister and the other under the chairmanship of the Speaker. In fact we had assured the state government of all support on Mahanadi issue and stand by its side to fight against the Centre or the Chhattsgarh government to safeguard the interest of the farmers and the people of our state,” he added