The House Committee on Mahanadi headed by Speaker Pradeep Kumar Amat met in the State Assembly premises on Thursday but could not take any decision.
Excepting Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra and a few BJD MLAs, all other members like Government Chief Whip Amar Prasad Satpathy, BJD MLAs Sanjay Kumar Dasburma, Debi Prasad Mishra and Dr Raseswari Panigrahi, Opposition Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati and BJP Legislature Party Leader KV Singh Deo attended.
The data submitted by the Water Resources Department were given to members for examination by them. The committee would meet next time in the first week of February and decide next course of action regarding formation of a tribunal, according to reports.
Mishra didn’t attend the meeting citing that he had some prior engagements. “I have received a letter from the Speaker inviting me to attend the House Committee on Mahanadi meeting. By the time I received the letter, I had finalised another engagement. Hence, I would not be able to attend,” Mishra told reporters.
However, he criticised Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for not calling the meeting of the all-party House Committee on Mahanadi headed by him (Patnaik).
“It is disappointing that the Chief Minister has not convened a meeting of the House Committee headed by him,” said Mihsra.
Later, BJP leader Singh Deo alleged that the ruling BJD and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik don’t want the Mahanadi water dispute resolved soon.
“Absence of BJD members at the House Committee meeting indicates the ruling party’s negative attitude for resolving the Mahanaid issue. The ruling BJD is trying to cover up its weaknesses despite the fact that Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari has requested the Chief Minister for a mutual solution,” said Singh Deo.
He too criticised that no decision was taken at the meeting of the House and the meeting was postponed to February.