Bhubaneswar: Expressing serious concern over the ongoing Mahanadi water dispute with neighbouring Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today said he personally started discussing the issue with his Chhattisgarh counterpart.
While briefing media persons in Bolangir, the Chief Minister said he has already held discussions with his Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai twice on the Mahanadi water dispute.
Shri Majhi said the state government is conscious about the issue and giving it all importance.
“Discussion on the Mahanadi issue is going on and I personally held discussions with the Chhattisgarh chief minister twice during courtesy meetings,” said Majhi, who is in charge of the Water Resources Department.
The CM further said that the State government is also giving emphasis on expediting the proposed barrages, dam projects on Mahanadi river in Odisha.
Shri Majhi, who was on a two-day visit to Bolangir district for the first time after becoming the Chief Minister of Odisha, alleged that the previous BJD government had neglected the district even though there was no dearth of strong political leadership in Bolangir.
During the press conference, he said that 83 development projects worth Rs 890 crore have been either inaugurated or foundation stone was laid in Bolangir district on Saturday. Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo who hails from Bolangir district will review the projects every month for its timely completion, he said.
While reacting to the CM’s statement on the Mahanadi issue, senior BJD leader and Lawmaker from Bolangir Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo said there is a need for action, not words. The government of India should come up with a strict decision to resolve the issue, he said.
“I was in the Parliament when the Mahanadi water dispute came to the fore. The then Minister Nitin Gadkari had refused to accept the proposal of Odisha. We forced him to refer the matter to the tribunal. In between, seven years have passed, but the tribunal is yet to come up with a solution,” the Lawmaker said.
On the other hand, senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra termed the statement of CM as just eyewash and said nothing will be done to resolve the issue as it was just a political statement.
“If the dispute could be resolved through discussion, then it could have been solved after a long time. They can only come up with such a statement, but when it comes to work they are a big zero. They can do nothing,” Mishra said.
Odisha alleges that it does not receive sufficient water from the Mahanadi river during non-monsoon months as Chhattisgarh obstructs the flow of the water by constructing barrages upstream. The previous Naveen Patnaik had moved the Supreme Court in this matter in 2016. The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal was constituted in 2018, following orders of the Supreme Court