Naveen to lead Mahanadi campaign

The Chhattisgarh Government is preventing Mahanadi water from flowing in Odisha by numerous dams and barrages. Such a situation is clearly evident at the river’s meeting point at Sukhasoda of Jharsuguda district, said BJD MP Prasanna Acharya. All the lands, rivers in Sukhasoda are now dry, he added while addressing a public meeting at Sukhasoda.

Acharya said a "Save Mahanadi Campaign" would begin from Sukhasoda from May 16 with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik addressing public meetings at Sukhasoda of Jharsuguda and Ambavona of Bargarh district. Later, BJD workers would take a pledge together at the Samleswari Temple in Sambalpur to fight for Mahanadi water for Odisha till the last breath of their life.

Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Government has handed over hundreds of barrages over the Mahanadi to industrial houses. As a result, not only Odisha, 22 villages of Chhattisgarh under the Kalma barrage are suffering for lack of water. Even after directions by the NGT to the Chhattisgarh Government to immediately stop construction of barrages over the Mahanadi, it is not complied with by Chhattisgarh, said Acharya.

Several other BJD leaders, including Sanjay Dasburma, Western Odisha Development Council Chairman Kishore Kumar Mohanty, Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation Chairman Anup Kumar Sai, former MP Rabi Pani, youth leaders Amaresh Patri and Ranapratap Patra were present at the meeting.