The Opposition Congress on Sunday demanded that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should lead an all-party delegation from the State to Delhi to raise the Mahanadi water issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Instead of making the ruling BJD staging demonstrations in protest against the Chhattisgarh government’s move to construct dams and barrages over Mahanadi, Mr. Patnaik should apprise Mr. Modi of the situation, senior party leader and former union minister Jairam Ramesh told presspersons here.
“The all-party delegation should tell Mr. Modi that no barrage or dam should be constructed over Mahanadi upstream at any location in Chhattisgarh without full knowledge and approval of Odisha,” said Mr. Ramesh, while addressing a press conference along with Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan.
Accusing the ruling BJD of trying to divert attention of the people from issues like Kandhamal killings, the two leaders said that the BJD making noise in the State would not help unless Mr. Patnaik he takes up the responsibility to safeguard the interest of Odisha and its people.
Expressing apprehension that the proposed constructions on Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh would have adverse impact on Odisha, Mr. Ramesh and Mr. Harichandan announced that a delegation of their party would visit the sites in Chhattisgarh within a week and study the situation.
The Congress delegation would prepare a report on the construction of irrigation projects by Chhattisgarh government on the upper catchment of Mahanadi and find out the possible impact on Odisha, they added.
The BJD had on Saturday announced that they would hold demonstrations in 15 districts in protest against Chhattisgarh government’s move from July 25 till August 11.
The party had made the announcement when a five-member delegation was on a visit to Gumudumaha village in Kandhamal district where five innocent people were killed during anti-Maoist operation.
Although the Chhattisgarh government has reacted saying that its projects on Mahanadi would not have adverse impact on Odisha almost all parties in the State have been demanding Centre’s intervention to protect the interest of the people.
Apprehensions over proposed constructions on Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh having an adverse impact on Odisha
