BJP & BJD at loggerheads over Mahanadi water dispute

Opposition BJD and ruling BJP on Saturday indulged in a political slugfest again over the Mahanadi water dispute in Odisha.

Senior BJD leader Prasanna Acharya lambasted the BJP by alleging that a dangerous situation is going to be created over the water of the Mahanadi river in Odisha near the border of the neighbouring state Chhattisgarh.

According to Acharya, from where BJD had started the Mahanadi initiative, it has now turned into a desert from a river.

“Nothing has been resolved regarding the dispute over Mahanadi water in Odisha despite several rounds of discussions between the Centre and Chhattisgarh. The process of reaching any kind of solution is only prolonged. Let the triple engine government solve the Mahanadi water dispute issue in Odisha soon,” said Acharya.

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“The Chairman of the tribunal has been changed recently and the issue will only be prolonged further because of this. We don’t know when the issue will be solved. By the time the issue is solved, Mahanadi will completely turn into a desert in Odisha,” he added.

In response, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan lashed out at BJD by saying that former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is only responsible for complicating the issue.

“BJD is telling unnecessary things. Politics is not done the way BJD did in a dramatic manner by refusing to accept any intermediate in the issue. He forgot about the problems of the Odisha people at that time. However, the BJP government will do whatever is required for the interest of the people and the Centre has full support for it. The previous government lost the battle due to their neglect,” said Harichandan.