Bhubaneswar: Politics over Mahanadi water-sharing dispute with Chhattisgarh has again taken centre stage in Odisha with the opposition parties and other organisations reacting to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s statement on the issue.
During his visit to Balangir, the Chief Minister stated that the BJP government is taking up the Mahanadi river water issue seriously and has already held discussions with the Chhattisgarh CM twice.
“The state government is contemplating speeding up proposed projects over Mahanadi,” he added.
Following his statement, opposition BJD and Congress sought concrete steps by the BJP government for an early solution to the long-standing dispute, while Mahanadi Bachao Andolan (MBA) asked the Chief Minister to make details of talks held with Chhattisgarh public.
While welcoming the CM’s statement, leaders of MBA said the government must make public the manner in which the Mahanadi river water dispute is sought to be solved.
Though Mahanadi river water disputes tribunal was formed in 2018 following the Supreme Court’s direction, no concrete result has emerged in the last seven years, they said, adding that tribunal chairman’s post is lying vacant for seven months and there has been no meeting during this period. All these show how serious is the Central government in resolving the contentious issue, they said.
Stating that BJP is in power in both Odisha and Chhattisgarh, the MBA leaders said the issue can be solved through talks and the Chief Minister should find a proper way to end the dispute.
Describing Mahanadi as the lifeline of Odisha, MBA leaders said the river dries up during non-monsoon season as Chhattisgarh closes all gates of Kalma barrage. Therefore, the Odisha government must take steps to ensure that gates of the barrage are kept open by Chhattisgarh.
