BHUBANESHWAR: On the backfoot because of several issues which exposed the state government's claim of all round development during the last 16 years, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today decided to raise Mahanadi river water dispute with Chhatisgarh, construction of Polavaram dam by Andhra Pradesh and funds cut by Centre from welfare schemes during the monsoon session of the assembly beginning tomorrow.
"Mahanadi, Polavaram and funds cut by Centre will be raised by BJD in the monsoon session of the assembly," chief minister Naveen Patnaik told mediapersons after the meeting of the BJD Legislature Party.
Mahanadi river water dispute will dominate the proceedings of the assembly as the issue is on the top of the agenda of opposition political parties Congress and BJP. Parliamentary affairs minister Bikram Keshari Arukha said that the ruling BJD prepared to discuss any issues to be raised by the opposition in the house.
Arukha said the state government will bring 12 bills during the session to have seven official and one private members day. The Bills to be brought by the state government during the session include, the Odisha Grama Panchayats (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Odisha Official Language (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Odisha Municipal Corporation (second Amendment) Bill, 2016, the
Odisha Electricity (Duty) Amendment Bill, 2016, the Odisha Development Authorities (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Bihar and Odisha Places of Pilgrimage (Odisha Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the Odisha Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
Stating that several issues to be raised by the Congress during the session, leader of the opposition Narasingh Mishra criticised the state government for its silence despite fully aware of the construction activities undertaken by Chhattisgarh on Mahanadi.
Mishra said there are several issues including the Dana Majhi incident and similar incidents at many places of the state, death of children at Nagada due to malnutrition and police filing at Gumudumaha which killed innocent dalits and tribals to be raised by the opposition.
"The opposition expects that the ruling party will cooperate and not run away from discussion on these issues in the house," he said and added that there should be concerted effort to protect the interests of Odisha.