When the State Government is not providing any facts what will be the basis on which there will be discussion, BJP leader Sajjan Sharma said and added that the Government is yet to take a stand on the proposal given by the Centre to set up a joint control board to discuss the Mahanadi water dispute.
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Notably, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had earlier sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in resolving the issue on sharing of the Mahanadi river waters.
The issue was discussed during a meeting of Central Water Commission (CWC) held in New Delhi on Friday which was attended by senior officials of both the State Governments and the Central Government.
Informing on the outcome of the meeting later in the day, the Chief Secretary of Chhatisgarh Vivek Dhand expressed optimism and said that, both the states have agreed upon forming a Joint Control Board with members from both the sides.
Union Water Resources Ministry’s Additional Secretary Amarjeet Singh presided over the meeting.
“Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was the Minister of Water Resources when Chhattisgarh Government constructed the barrages and informed Odisha”. He said Odisha Government should take the case to the inter-State water tribunal for adjudication if the Chhattisgarh Government continues with its construction activities.
Odisha pointed out that due to the ongoing Arpa-Bhaisajhar project in Chhattisgarh, availability of water in the Hirakud Dam, Odisha, during the non-monsoon period was not significant.
Odisha Congress President Prasad Harichandan today alleged that Biju Janata Dal led Odisha Government was aware of the construction of barrages in the upper catchment of Mahanadi by Chhattisgarh Government and intentionally kept the people of Odisha in dark.
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“It is a serious matter pertaining to the interest of the state”.
