Bhubaneswar: Welcoming Odisha Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari’s advice to use constitutional platforms over the inter-state river water issue, Mahanadi Bachao Andolan on Thursday clarified that its visit to Kalma barrage in Chhattisgarh is not aimed waging a war.
Mahanadi Bachao Andolan (MBA), which has been fighting for securing proper share of Mahanadi River water for Odisha, was responding after Pujari advised the organisation to make use of constitutional fora and legal framework. He also urged the MBA to cooperate with the government in getting the long-standing water dispute resolved expeditiously.
“We thank the Minister and welcome the respect he has shown for our feelings regarding the Mahanadi River water issue,” convenor of Mahanadi Bachao Andolan Suadarsan Das told reporters.
Stressing that the Mahanadi connects both Chhattisgarh and Odisha culturally, socially and economically, he said the organisation never breaks the ties between the people of both the states.
“We respect the ties between the two states. We do not want it to be damaged. Therefore, there is no question of declaring war against Chhattisgarh,” said Das.
Stating that MBA has been working within the ambit of the law till date, Das said the organisation has never disobeyed any legal measure in the last ten years since it came into being.
“We want to assure the Revenue Minister that we will not do anything that is against the law or creates bitterness between the people of the two states,” he said.
Describing the visit of MBA members to Kalma barrage is a symbolic protest, Das said the sand dam built close to the Kalma Barrage in Chhattisgarh is illegal and the organisation has repeatedly drawn the attention of the state government regarding this.
Since no step was taken to prevent it, the MBA drew the attention of the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and demanded the removal of that sand dam through a letter, Das said, adding that copies of that letter have also been sent to the Prime Minister, Union Jal Shakti Minister, Chief Minister of Odisha, Chairman of the Mahanadi Water Dispute Tribunal, and the Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha.
“However, no one has listened to us. Till date, they have not shown interest in discussing the issue, which has deeply disturbed us. We are not going to demolish the Kalma Barrage or fight against anyone. We will only protest against the illegally constructed sand dam and will symbolically try to remove the sand dam,” the MBA convenor said.
Das said the Mahanadi Bachao Andolan we will support all kinds of realistic and constructive programmes towards resolving the Mahanadi water dispute.
