Parliament Budget Session: BJD To Rake Up Mahanadi Tribunal, Polavaram Among Other Issues

Bhubaneswar: A meeting of the BJD parliamentarians on Saturday decided to rake up some major issues pertaining to Odisha notably the Mahanadi Tribunal and Polavaram in the second phase budget session of the Parliament beginning from March 5.

Talking to media persons after the meeting presided over by the BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Naveen Niwas, spokesperson of the BJD Parliamentary Party, Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo said his party would rake up Mahanadi Tribunal and Polavaram issues during the budget session.

“Apart from this, BJD would reiterate its demand for formation of three new divisions under the East Coast Railway (ECoR), hike in the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy and change in the Parliamentary Standing Committees,” he added.

Singhdeo further informed that his party would also raise its long-standing demand to accord special category status to Odisha.

There will be a total of 23 sessions during the second phase budget session of the Parliament which would conclude on April 6.

The first phase Parliament budget session had begun on January 29. The House was adjourned on February 9 after eight sessions.