Odisha MP Raises Mahanadi Water Issue In Lok Sabha, Seeks Centre’s Intervention

Bhubaneswar: Even as the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal is scheduled to carry out a field visit on March 15, BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahatab on Monday sought the Centre’s intervention to ensure Odisha’s share from the river water.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, the Cuttack MP said as per 1947 report of Central Waterway and Irrigation Navigation Commission on the Mahanadi valley development (Hirakud dam project), the minimum flow of 20.61 million acre feet (MAF) of water was approved and Odisha was permitted to use 12.28 MAF. The rest was meant for upstream state.

But Chhattisgarh has obstructed the water by constructing dams in the upstream unilaterally. Citing the letter of the neighbouring State sent on August 27, 2016, Mahatab said Chhattisgarh has unilaterally planned illegal obstruction of 24.5 MAF of Mahanadi river water.

“As the Central government did not take step despite Odisha’s repeated requests, the state government moved the Supreme Court which set up the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal. Even as the tribunal has already had 33 sittings, it is yet to submit its report,” the MP said.

Stating that the water flow in Mahanadi to Odisha has almost stopped in mid-February, he expressed concern over the plight of the people depending on the river during the gruelling four months of the summer ahead this year.

The MP appealed to the Centre to ascertain whether Chhattisgarh has taken guidelines of the Ministry of Forest and Environment and Climate Change for water flow in Mahanadi while planning its projects.

It may be noted that a three-member bench of the tribunal, headed by chairman Justice AM Khanwilkar, on Monday announced that its members will visit the disputed site for a week from March 15. They will be accompanied by technical teams and assessors appointed for the purpose.

Following the field visit, the Tribunal will hear the case and record the statement of the witnesses. Its next hearing has been scheduled on March 25.