Chhattisgarh planning to use extra Mahanadi water: Naveen Patnaik

BHUBANESWAR: Chhattisgarh plans to use 27.48 million acre feet (MAF) Mahanadi water through its various projects, which may severely curtail flow of water of Hirakud reservoir, chief minister Naveen Patnaik told the assembly on Monday.
The water use capacity of the existing projects of the neighbouring state is around 8.31 MAF. "It is planning to add another 19.17 MAF thorough its upcoming projects," the CM told the Vidhan Sabha in writing.
The chief minister said the Chhattisgarh projects may affect irrigation capacity and electricity production, water supply to industries and drinking water supply from Hirakud dam. This apart, it would also affect irrigation and drinking water supply in the Mahanadi delta.
Naveen said the Chhattisgarh projects will affect life and livelihood in 15 of the 30 districts (Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Balangir, Sonepur, Boudh, Angul, Cuttack, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Puri, Nayagarh and Khurda).
The existing projects of Chhattisgarh have already affected water flow into the Mahanadi during beginning of monsoon season and the entire non-monsoon flow, Naveen said.