BHUBANESWAR: As Mahanadi water sharing continues to be a bone of contention between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday said his government is pursuing the matter seriously with the neighbouring state for an early resolution.
Addressing a media-conference at Balangir in his maiden two-day visit to the district, the chief minister said he has already had two rounds of discussions with his Chhattisgarh counterpart Vishnu Deo Sai on the issue.
“Our government has taken the matter seriously and discussion on the issue is going on. I have taken up the issue with the Chhattisgarh chief minister twice and we are hopeful of finding an early solution to the water dispute,” Majhi said.
Targeting the previous government for doing nothing when the Chhattisgarh government constructed a large number of barrages on the upper stream of Mahanadi river, Majhi said the Odisha government is now focused on speeding up the proposed barrages and dam projects on the river to conserve water.
“We are committed to ensuring that Odisha’s rightful share of Mahanadi water is protected. The state government is giving emphasis to accelerate the implementation of key projects on the river,” he added.
Earlier in September, Union Jal Shakti minister CR Patil had assured that steps were being taken to resolve the long-standing Mahanadi river water dispute soon. The Mahanadi Water Tribunal is working steadfastly to find a fair and equitable solution that benefits both states, Patil had said after CM Majhi had taken up the issue with him during his Odisha visit.
Meanwhile, Majhi’s statement on Mahanadi assumes significance as it was made during his Balangir visit. Describing Balangir as one of the most drought-prone districts in the state, the chief minister, who also holds the Water Resources portfolio, blamed the previous BJD government for the situation.
Inaugurating and laying foundation stones for 83 projects worth Rs 890 crore, he said, “This is my first visit to Balangir after becoming chief minister of the state. I feel the district has been utterly neglected by the previous government.”
He also said the district has not given due importance despite strong leadership from different political parties. The BJP government is not leaving any stone unturned to make it a frontline district. The government has initiated measures to expedite all irrigation projects including check dams which were hanging fire for long, he said.
“The main purpose of my visit to Balangir is to lay the foundation stone for the Upper Lanth Irrigation project in Belpada block which will be construed at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore. On completion, the project will irrigate 15,000 acres of farm land during kharif and rabi seasons and more than 38,000 farmers of 25 villages will be benefited. This apart the proposed hydro power project will generate 210 KW power,” the CM said.
He said deputy chief minister KV Singh Deo will review all the projects every month for timely completion.
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