RAYAGADA: The Naveen Patnaik-led State Government is shedding crocodile tears on Mahanadi and Bansadhara river disputes to fool people of Odisha, alleged State BJP general secretary Bhrugu Buxipatra.
Speaking to media here on Saturday, he said while Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh governments are spending crores of rupees to utilise the water of Mahanadi and Bansadhara in the best possible manner, Odisha Government has not spent a single rupee in this direction. “Bansadhara originates from Kalahandi and flows through a stretch of 154 km in Odisha and 82 km in Andhra Pradesh.
It covers another 29 km on bordering areas of both the States before falling into the Bay of Bengal,” he said, adding that the recent decision of the Bansadhara Water Disputes Tribunal allowing Andhra Pradesh Government to construct Neradi barrage over the river and 50-50 usage of Bansadhara water by both the States will only backfire on Odisha. Buxipatra further said that construction of the barrage will submerge many areas in Gajapati and Rayagada districts.
He alleged that the BJD Government belatedly raised the issue of construction of barrages by the neighbouring Chhattisgarh on the river Mahanadi and its tributaries to gain political mileage. The BJP leader suggested that the State Government should file a review petition against the order passed by Bansadhara Water Disputes Tribunal.