Odisha Govt Comes Under Fire For Showing Undue Favouritism To Chhattisgarh Amid Mahanadi Row

Bhubaneswar: Even though there is no sight of any solution to the long-standing Mahanadi River water dispute, an instance of Odisha government's alleged shocking favouritism for Chhattisgarh at the expense of the people of Odisha has now become a hot topic of discussion in the State. 

In March earlier this year, Odisha government hiked the electricity tariff by 30 paise per unit which sparked a lot of tumult and criticism from all around as political affiliations to the common man alike protested the decision as a huge burden on people amid the pandemic crisis.

However, sources said that the government has reduced the tariff of power supplied to Chhattisgarh through the Hirakud Hydroelectricity project.

While the State-run discom from the neighbouring Chhattisgarh, CSPDCL was earlier buying electricity at Rs 2.009 per unit prior to March 2021, later, the OERC is reported to have cut the power charge to Rs 1.80 per unit at the request of the Chhattisgarh government.

The revelation has evoked sharp reactions from the Opposition political parties. BJP and Congress have targeted the Odisha government over the issues while State Energy Minister has clarified that surplus electricity is auctioned at the national level in real time. 

It may be noted that annually, the Hirakud Hydroelectricity Project authorities supply around 16 million units of electricity to the CSPDCL through GRIDCO.