This story is from July 24, 2016

BJD to stage protests in 15 district headquarter

The BJD on Saturday announced to stage protests against construction of barrages over the Mahanadi by the Chhattisgarh government, even though most party leaders are unaware of the developments.
BJD to stage protests in 15 district headquarter
Bhubaneswar: The BJD on Saturday announced to stage protests against construction of barrages over the Mahanadi by the Chhattisgarh government, even though most party leaders are unaware of the developments.
Addressing a news conference here, party vice-president and Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharya said party's youth wing would stage demonstrations in front of collectorates in 15 districts from July 25 to August 11.

"Mahanadi is the lifeline of Odisha. Construction of barrages in the upstream would affect agriculture in Odisha. If the Chhattisgarh government would not halt construction activities, the BJD would launch state-wide agitation," said Acharya at the meet attended by food supplies and consumer welfare minister Sanjay Das Burma and Western Odisha Development Council chairman Kishore Mohanty.
Without naming anyone, the BJD leaders said there was a well-thought conspiracy plotted to dry Mahanadi. He said even though the state government raised the issue on a number of occasions, no step was taken to sort out the issue.
The chief minister has already raised the issue before the inter-state council meeting. He also sought the prime minister's intervention on the issue. But the Centre's silence over the issue in unfortunate, Acharya said.
The state government also accused the Chhattisgarh government of executing 18 major projects, eight medium projects and seven weirs without even obtaining forest clearance. The flow of water to the Hirakud dam would be hit due to all these projects, he said.
Asked why the state government was silent over the years, Acharya said it was not the first occasion when the Chhattisgarh government has carried out such construction. There was a similar attempt before 10 years when the Chhattisgarh government constructed a check dam at Urmil on the Tel that caused floods in Chandahandi block of Nabarangapur district. The project is incomplete due to protest from the Odisha side, Das Burma said. On whether the state government would take legal remedies to sort out the issue, Acharya said it has protested inside and outside democratically. It is not possible to jump into legal actions immediately. We are closely watching the developments on part of the Central government. If it would not take any step, we would definitely take legal help, the BJD veteran said.
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