BHUBANESWAR: The dispute over Mahanadi river water between Odisha and Chhattisgarh escalated with the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) raising the issue in both the houses of Parliament even as Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh asserted that the state has every right to utilise its water.
The BJD MPs moved calling attention motions in both the houses of Parliament over the issue. Though union water resources minister Uma Bharti assured that Odisha's interest will not be sacrificed, the BJD MPs expressed their displeasure over the reply.
Leader of the BJD parliamentary party Bhatruhari Mahatab said BJD will raise the issue again tomorrow in the house in another form. BJD MPs staged a walk out over the issue in Rajya Sabha.
Centre has convened a tripartite meeting between officials Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Central Water Commission (CWC) over the issue on July 29. Originally, Centre had convened the meeting on July 7. The meeting was, however, deferred after request from the Odisha government.
The Chhattisgarh chief minister told mediapersons at Raipur that his government is ready for talks with the Odisha government over the issue. He said all the projects over Mahanadi has clearance from the CWC.
The Congress team led by leader of the Opposition Narasingh Mishra today made an on the spot visit to site of barrages and dams being constructed by the Chhatisgarh government. Mishra said officials from the Chhattisgarh government accompanied the Odisha team during the visit and provided several documents.
The leader of the opposition criticised the Odisha government for not providing any document even after his request. Mishra alleged that the Odisha government had remained silent over the issue even though it was aware about the construction activities of Chhattisgarh government since 2007. Mishra said Chhattisgarh government is constructing six barrages over river Mahanadi on its side solely to cater to the water requirement of industries.
Meanwhile, the BJD today rejected the proposal of all party meeting given by Mishra to the chief minister in this regard. There is no meaning of an all party meeting as state Congress and BJP leaders will never go against the decision taken by their parties at the national level, BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said.
Deb said the state Congress and BJP leaders should pressurise their parties to raise the issue in Parliament and stop further construction by Chhattisgarh government till the issue is sorted out.