Singh's comment came on the sidelines of ‘Mahanadi Jatra’, which kicked off from Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.
Mahanadi Jatra, a rally launched by Mahanadi Bachao Andolan, an outfit fighting for the conservation of the river aims to protect the Mahanadi river in Odisha from the aftereffects of the construction of Kalma barrage in the upper river in Chhattisgarh.
During the three-day visit to Odisha, a 13-member committee led by Singh will prepare a report on possible solutions for the protection of Mahanadi based on the ground realities near the barrage. The committee is also likely to discuss the matter with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister.
The panel will also initiate discussions with the denizens of the areas situated on the bank of Mahanadi in Jharsuguda and Sonepur which are likely to suffer the worst impacts due to the barrage. The opinions of different sections of people will also be collected to prepare a detailed report.
Singh rapped the Odisha government for not getting a way out to resolve the long-pending dispute with Chhattisgarh over sharing of Mahanadi water.
“Though a tribunal has been formed to resolve the issue, no headway in this direction is quite unfortunate,” said Singh.
Meanwhile, throwing weight behind Singh, convener of Mahanadi Bachao Andolan, Sudarsan Das also lambasted the government for its intention.
“The Odisha government has turned a blind eye to the issue after the election. Mahanadi is the lifeline of Odia people. These kinds of issues should be beyond political motives. It is the most significant issue pertaining to the existence of the State and the economic, social and cultural aspects of Odia people and hence should be solved on a priority basis,” said Das.
Welcoming Tirkey and Das to the party fold, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief Niranjan Patnaik said that the joining of of the duo would strengthen the party.
"Tirkey is a senior tribal leader with thousands of supporters. Similarly, Das along with four other members of the organisation joined Congress today. I strongly believe it will strengthen Odisha Congress and we heartily welcome them to the party," said Patnaik.
He further said that Congress is ready to welcome all those like-minded people who want to work for the interest of Odisha.
On being asked if Tirkey will contest from Sundergarh Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 elections, the OPCC president refused to divulge any detail as of now but said that the party will take a decision in this regard at appropriate time.
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Meanwhile, speculations are rife that the Biramitrapur MLA is eyeing the Sundergarh Lok Sabha seat. In 2004, he had unsuccessfully fought the Sundergarh LS seat elections as Independent.
New Delhi/ Bhubaneswar: The ruling BJD in Odisha has now intensified the ongoing stir against Centre over Mahanadi dispute with its members joining the All Party 'Satyagraha' Mahanadi Bachao Andolan in front of Parliament today.
Moreover, the BJD members will again move an adjournment motion in both the houses - Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha demanding a discussion on the issue tomorrow.
" Apart from adjournment motion, the party MPs in the Upper House of the Parliament have also moved a calling attention notice for a discussion on the issue," said MP Prasanna Acharya.
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“We had moved adjournment motion yesterday and will move the motion tomorrow again demanding discussion on the issue. Already all party committee has been formed in Odisha Legislative Assembly to meet the Prime Minister and demand constitution of a Tribunal,” BJD’s Kendrapara MP, Baijayant Panda said.
Representatives of 14 political parties had joined the All Party Satyagraha in front of Parliament today while eight organisations had taken out rally in Chhattisgarh for the protection of Mahanadi river.
https://youtu.be/OM_rZX3f86E
The decision to form the committee came after an all party meeting between CM Naveen, Speaker Pradeep Amat, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, BJP LP leader KV Singhdeo along with the government Chief Whip and Parliamentary Affairs Committee members.
Coming down heavily on the Centre for not agreeing to set up a tribunal on the river dispute, CM Patnaik said, "We have decided that a House Committee will be formed. What the Central government has done in the Supreme Court yesterday suggests that they are no longer a neutral referee in this matter. So we will have further discussions with leaders of other parties to think of future strategies but be assured that the BJD will fight for the interest of the people of Odisha, particularly its farmers.”
Meanwhile, CM's comments on the issue have not gone down well with the BJP. Party chief Basant Panda said the CM should refrain from politicising the matter and especially when the decision to fight for Mahanadi has been taken unanimously by all parties, the Chief Minister should not project that all the efforts are being made by the ruling-BJD.
In an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, the Centre on Wednesday accused Odisha government of not providing any data or adducing any evidence in support of its stand on the water dispute. The Centre slammed the state government for not making any effort to resolve the dispute.
It is to be noted that the state government had earlier rejected a negotiation panel constituted by the Centre in January 28 under Inter State River Water (ISRW) Dispute Act, 1956.
Praying before the court to direct Odisha government to cooperate with Chhattisgarh to arrive at a permanent, amicable solution, the Centre has said that since the functioning of a tribunal is similar to the process followed by the ‘negotiation committee’, set up earlier, it is quite likely that Odisha may also thwart the legal process before the tribunal also just the way it did in January 28.
It was decided, as Centre disrespected the Indian Constitution by not taking steps to set up Mahanadi Tribunal, a censure motion will be tabled in the Assembly to protest this.
Proposals to protest in assembly and parliament over Chhattisgarh's unilateral construction of dams and barrages on Mahanadi river, to intensify the judicial and democratic agitation for security of Mahanadi and to stage an all-party dharna in front of Raj Bhavan and in New Delhi was also approved in the meeting.
Besides, it was decided that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will be requested to call an all-party meeting over the issue and lead the agitation to save Mahanadi.
The meeting called by Mahanadi Bachao Andolan was attended by leaders of 11 political parties including BJD, Congress and Left.
But as no leader of BJP turned up for the meeting, both BJD and Congress criticised the party.
“Be it judicial, democratic or legislative means, we are continuing our fight. We have taken legal steps, had raised the issue in assembly and parliament and had also taken to streets,” said BJD MP Pratap Deb.
“How to restrain the river water and devote it for interest of Odisha is a matter of concern. Other than yelling with political intention, it will be right to start working for people of Odisha with a vision for the future,” said senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik.
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On the other hand, BJP made it clear why it decided not to attend the meeting.
“When BJP had started the Mahanadi Bachao Andolan in the year 2011-12 the State government had stated in the Assembly that Odisha will not face water scarcity even if 100 dams are constructed on Mahanadi as it is receiving excess water. The State government should first give an answer on such a statement and after that BJP will take further action,” said BJP State President Basant Panda.
https://youtu.be/ESgNbZicBbU