Centre’s Silence Over Mahanadi Dispute ‘Sad’: Patnaik
“It is sad that the BJP-led government at the Centre is silent over the sensitive Mahanadi water dispute,” Patnaik said.
Paradip (Odisha), May 25
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said today that the Centre’s silence over a row between Odisha and Chhattisgarh on sharing the waters of the Mahanadi river is “sad” and accused the BJP of not paying attention to the state’s needs.
Patnaik’s remarks came a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Cuttack on the banks of the Mahanadi river where he will also address a public meeting.
“It is sad that the BJP-led government at the Centre is silent over the sensitive Mahanadi water dispute,” Patnaik said, addressing the ruling BJD’s valedictory programme of the ‘Mahanadi Suraksha Abhiyan’ here in Jagatsinghpur district.
In an apparent show of strength ahead of the prime minister’s visit, Patnaik criticised the BJP over its stand on the Mahanadi dispute at a massive gathering in the port town.
Odisha has been opposing Chhattisgarh’s constructionon upstream Mahanadi, claiming the projects are disrupting the flow of water in the river.
While stating that the ecosystem of Chilika lake, Satkosia and Bhitarkanika sanctuaries survive on Mahanadi waters, Patnaik said: “We are not fighting for just water, we are fighting for the life of Mahanadi. If Mahanadi is to be saved as a river, water level should be maintained in its 500 km basin during summer.”
He claimed that “BJP leaders in Odisha were shedding crocodile tears” and supporting the alleged illegal constructions by the Chhattisgarh government on the river.
Patnaik, also the BJD president, claimed that it is due to the persistent efforts of his government that a tribunal has been established to resolve the Mahanadi river dispute.
“The people of Odisha are united for Mahanadi and BJD will give a befitting reply for the attack on our livelihood,” Patnaik said.
On May 16, the chief minister flagged off the ‘Mahanadi Surakhsha Abhiyan’ from Bargarh and Jharsuguda districts, which culminated in Paradip, where the Mahanadi river meets the Bay of Bengal.
The BJP hit back at Patnaik for flaying the Centre over Mahanadi and accused him of politicising and adopting “double standard” on the sensitive river water issue as he “wants the row to linger”.
“The Centre tried its best to resolve Mahanadi river water row between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, but Naveen Patnaik did not cooperate as he sought to play politics on the issue,” BJP National spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters here.
Patra claimed “Patnaik is speaking in two languages so far as the Mahanadi river water is concerned. He says one thing as chief minister and just the opposite as the BJD president.”
The BJP leader claimed that Patnaik had admitted in the state Assembly in December 2017 that adequate water of Mahanadi was flowing into Odisha but 53 per cent of the total volume was going waste due to lack of dams and barrages in the state.
However, while speaking outside the House, the chief minister does politics by claiming that the Mahanadi river was drying up in the state in his bid to mislead the people and derive political mileage, Patra said.
He blamed the Patnaik government of having failed to construct the much-needed dams and barrages on the Mahanadi river since it came to power 18 years ago.
Stating that the Centre tried sincerely to get the issue resolved through discussion, Patra said Patnaik failed to extend the required cooperation as he wanted the row to linger for political gain.
He said the issue should be resolved soon and now the tribunal would do the job.
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the state tomorrow, the BJP spokesperson said the people of Odisha should be proud that Modi has chosen the historic Bali Jatra ground in Cuttack as the venue of his public meeting to mark the completion of four years of his government.