Odisha Assembly disrupted over Mahanadi river water dispute on Thursday

BHUBANESWAR: The assembly witnessed noisy scenes again on Thursday as the opposition Congress and BJP members disrupted proceedings demanding a discussion on Mahanadi river water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Leader of the opposition Narasingh Mishra raised the issue as soon as the question hour started and requested Speaker Pradip Amat to allow a discussion over the Mahanadi river water dispute. Agitated Congress members rushed to the well of the house shouting slogans as the Speaker ignored his demand and started the question hour. Some of the members were also seen trying to climb up to the Speaker's podium.

The speaker adjourned the house till 11.30 am as it was not possible to conduct the proceedings. Congress members resumed slogan shouting in the well reiterating their demand after the house reassembled forcing the Speaker to adjourn it till 3pm. “I had requested the Speaker to cancel the question hour and start discussion on Mahanadi river water dispute. But the Speaker did not consider my request and directed resumption of the question hour. The directive of the Speaker was protested by my Congress members” Mishra told mediapersons outside the house.

Mishra said he had also requested the Speaker that the house committee on Mahanadi river water dispute formed under the chairmanship of the chief minister should be convened. But, the Speaker turned down the request. However, BJD member Dibya Shankar Mishra told mediapersons outside the house that the BJD will continued its fight to ensure that interest of people of Odisha is not compromised. BJP's bias towards Chhattisgarh in the Mahanadi issue has already been exposed, he said.

The Speaker convened an all party meeting to resolve the issue after the house was adjourned for the second time. BJD member Sanjay Dasburma and Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati separately told mediapersons that it was unanimously decided that Mahanadi issue will be discussed in the house on Friday.

“The Mahanadi issue will be suspended for discussion on Mahanadi river water dispute. Besides, the adjournment motion notice given by the Congress on corruption in paddy procurement in paddy procurement in Kendrapara district will also be discussed,” he said.