The BJD on Saturday said Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari’s assertion that the Mahanadi water dispute can be resolved through dialogues is nothing but an instance of partiality for Chhattisgarh and mockery to Odisha.
“Nitin Gadkari’s statement and his Friday’s letter to CM Naveen Patnaik show that his Ministry is still silent over six barrages illegally constructed upstream Mahanadi by Chhattisgarh at the cost of Odisha’s interest. After failures of officer- and Chief Minister-level talks and the Water Resources Ministry filing an affidavit at the Supreme Court to form a tribunal and the Minister making promises in both the Houses of the Parliament in this regard, Gadkari’s latest statement only favours the BJP in Chhattisgarh,” said BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra at a Press conference here.
He said it would have been acceptable to people of Odisha if the Minister had ordered stopping of the illegal constructions in Chhattisgarh and formation of a tribunal and called for talks till the verdict of the tribunal.
“As per the Constitution, the Union Government can’t sit silent if an inter-State water dispute is arisen and must interfere and resolve the issue. But the Union Government is making partialities in favour of Chhattisgarh,” said Mishra.
He alleged that Chhattisgarh, violating the earlier agreement between Odisha and erstwhile Madhya Pradesh, is making a conspiracy to utilise 27.48 million acre foot of water.
BJD MP Pinaki Misra said Chhattisgarh has provided false data to the Water Resources Minister regarding use of its barrage water. The barrages are meant to provide water to industries only, he alleged.
Rajay Sabha BJD member Pratap Keshari Deb said the BJD would continue fighting legally to foil the conspiracy of the BJP against Odisha and create awareness among people.