MBA Cancels Rail Roko Agitation Over Mahanadi Issue Due To Rain

Bhubaneswar: The proposed movement of Mahanadi Bachao Andolan to stage
a three-hour rail roko over Mahanadi issue on Dec 9 has been cancelled
as the meteorological department has predicted heavy rain in Odisha
during the next 48 hours. However, the next date/course of action will
be announced shortly, Mahanadi Bachao Andolan (MBA) convenor Sudarshan
Das informed on Friday.

“The Writ Petition by Chhattisgarh government challenging the NGT
order on the Mahanadi matter between Sudarsan Das, Agami Odisha vrs
Government of India, Chhattisgarh government and others is being heard
at Kolkata High Court today. We have also decided to write a letter to
the Union Secretary of Ministry of Water Resources, Government of
India to withdraw the affidavit filed by them as it contradicts the
statement made by the Ministry in the Parliament”, Das said.

On Thursday, the members of MBA and representatives of 13 political
parties have decided to stop plying of goods trains carrying minerals
of Odisha, especially coal, iron ore and manganese to outside from 10
am to 1 pm in different parts of Odisha on December 9, to protest
against the Central Government’s denial for formation of an
inter-state tribunal to resolve Mahanadi issue.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Central Government submitted an affidavit
before the Supreme Court stating that there was no need to constitute
an inter-state tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi water dispute. In the
affidavit, the Centre blamed Odisha government for its alleged failure
in providing relevant facts and figures required for formation of a
tribunal.

The Centre told that the long-standing dispute can be sorted out
mutually through negotiation.