He added, Odisha Government must opt for legal action against the Chhatisgarh authorities for going ahead with barrages and dams on Mahanadi without proper approval from the concerned bodies.
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Flow of water in Mahanadi through Hirakud dam in Odisha would be severely affected if the ongoing projects on the upstream of the river in Chhattisgarh were allowed to be completed, said Mishra. The memorandum was submitted at the Raj Bhavan here.
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha state Congress on Friday called for a statewide shutdown on August 16 to protest construction of barrages and dams on Mahanadi river in its upper catchment area by the Chhattisgarh government. The delegation led by Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress also urged the President to ensure formation of a “river board” under River Board Act, 1956 to resolve all disputes between Odisha and Chhatisgarh on the Mahanadi water failing which a tribunal might be constituted in accordance with law.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) held an important meeting on Mahanadi issue at the Congress Bhawan here.
Terming as “baseless”, the BJD government’s claim that it was unaware of the constructions on Mahanadi river in Chhattisgarh, Mishra said way back on April 10, 2001 the chief minister himself had made a categorical promise in the state assembly while replying to an adjournment motion moved by Ashok Das on the impact of construction of barrages on upstream of Mahanadi. “But, it should not be at the cost of farmers and interest of Odisha”, they said.
“Both Odisha and Chhattisgarh governments are responsible for the boiling controversy over Mahanadi riverm water”.
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Besides, the team also expressed doubts about the facts given by the neighbouring state on the projects being constructed on the river Mahanadi. He had then assured the House that he would never let the Chhattisgarh Government construct the proposed projects while informing that he had already talked to the then Union Water Resources Minister.
