SAMBALPUR: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday blamed Chhattisgarh Government for Mahanadi water dispute and said Odisha is not receiving sufficient water from the river during non-monsoon period as the neighbouring State is blocking its flow.
During his visit to Sambalpur, Pradhan said Chhattisgarh Government has stopped the water of Mahanadi by constructing barrages on the pretext of providing irrigation to its farmers, but diverted water to industrial houses. Terming the act of Chhattisgarh as ‘wrongful’, Pradhan said Odisha is also diverting water meant for irrigation to industries.
Coming down heavily on the BJD, Pradhan said the incapability of the State Government led to dispute over the river and accused the ruling party of politicising the Mahanadi river dispute. In order to resolve the issue, putting pressure on Chhattisgarh is the need of the hour and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should take appropriate measures in this regard, he added.
Pradhan said he would personally extend all support for the cause and the interest of Odisha will not be compromised under any circumstances. Pradhan also accused the BJD Government of having failed to take steps for conserving and utilising Mahanadi river water, a major volume of which, he said, flows to the sea and goes waste.
Emphasising on bilateral dialogue, Pradhan said though tribunal has already been formed to resolve the water dispute, the two States should also initiate dialogue for resolving the issue.Taking a dig at Pradhan for his comment, senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharya said though everybody was aware that Chhattisgarh had stopped the water of Mahanadi, the BJP State unit feigned ignorance about the fact. However, the BJP has now admitted the fact because of rising public opinion against Chhattisgarh over the issue, he added.
The State Government and people of Odisha are putting pressure on Chhattisgarh for releasing water to river Mahanadi. Now, both Union ministers, Pradhan and Jual Oram, should initiate steps on pressurising Chhattisgarh to release water to river Mahanadi, he added.