Chhattisgarh has stopped Mahanadi water, admits Pradhan

Sambalpur: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today admitted that the Chhattisgarh government has stopped Mahanadi water for which Odisha is not getting sufficient water during the non-monsoon period.

While addressing a press conference in Sambalpur on the occasion of the completion of four years of BJP government at the Centre, Pradhan said that the flow of water into Hirakud reservoir in the downstream of Mahanadi River has been affected due to the construction of barrages by the Chhattisgarh government on the upper catchment areas of the river.

“I admit that Chhattisgarh has stopped the Mahanadi water in the upper catchment areas and is providing water to industries. Odisha is also providing water from Mahanadi to several industries. There is need to put pressure on the Chhattisgarh government and I request the Odisha CM to take steps in this regard. I personally support the cause and the Centre will always help in resolving the issue,” said Pradhan.

A major portion of Mahanadi water gets drained into the sea. The State government has not made any provision to utilise the water which is getting wasted, the Union Minister added.

Senior BJD leader Prasanna Acharya on the other hand took a jibe at Pradhan’s comment and said the BJP-led Central government should put pressure on the Chhattisgarh government.

"The union minister was forced to admit this not due to his conscience but due to people's mandate keeping in view 2019 elections in Odisha," Acharya added.