Jual Oram targets Naveen Patnaik for Mahanadi ‘doublespeak’

BHUBANESWAR: Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram here on Thursday accused the ruling BJD of doublespeak on Mahanadi water dispute.
While all the 20 Lok Sabha members of the regional party were unanimous last year that large quantity of surplus Mahanadi water was going waste, the BJD has sustained a long-drawn agitation in the state by telling people that the river is heading towards a water scarcity situation due to projects being undertaken by Chhattisgarh, Jual told reporters here.
Showing a May 23, 2015 letter, signed by all 20 Lok Sabha members of the regional party and highlighting surplus water of the interstate river going waste, Jual said the MPs’ stand is contrary to the regional party’s position now. He said the BJD had used Mahanadi as a tactic to divert people’s attention from malnutrition deaths at Nagada in Jajpur district and killing of tribals in Kandhamal.
The MPs’ letter, addressed to chief minister Naveen Patnaik and forwarded to Union Ministry of water resources, said 20 billion cubic metre (BCM) water from Mahanadi is being discharged annually to the Bay of Bengal. This is because capacity of Hirakud is inadequate and water in tributaries of Mahanadi such as Ong, Ib and Tel is not fully harnessed.
The MPs pleaded for interlinking of water surplus Mahanadi with water deficit Rushikula to meet irrigation and drinking water needs of southern districts and flood control in Mahanadi basin.
Jual said CM the must clarify reason behind the BJD U turn in a year.
BJD MP Sidhant Mohapatra said Jual is misinterpreting their letter. “We were right in pointing out surplus water going waste during monsoon and advocated it use for drinking water and irrigation in southern districts. The problem due to Chhattisgarh projects is for non-monsoon flow,” Mohapatra said.