As the dust has now settled post 2024 elections, the Mahanadi issue is back on centre stage. On Wednesday, Opposition BJD expressed concerns over the condition of Mahanadi which is drying up.
Senior BJD leader Prasanna Acharya said that as there are BJP governments in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and in the Centre, resolving the Mahanadi dispute would be easier.
“Now it will be easy to resolve the Mahanadi issue as there are BJP governments both in Odisha and at the Centre. We hope that the State government will work in the interest of Odisha and ensure that it gets its proper share of water. After the dam project works in Chhattisgarh, the water inflow to Mahanadi in Odisha has reduced. The river has dried up in several parts of the state,” said Acharya.
According to Acharya, it is good if the dispute is resolved amicably, but a mindset is required for it.
Responding to Acharya’s statements, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari said, "Did Prasanna Acharya realise this after 24 years? They had their government in Odisha for the past 24 years."
“In a democratic setup, did the BJD government move appropriate forums? Had the former CM Naveen Patnaik discussed the matter with the Chhattisgarh CM? Once there was the Congress government and then the BJP government in Chhattisgarh. Had they (BJD) taken up such measures, they would have been able to tell people that they tried even if they failed,” said Pujari.
According to Pujari, BJD never took up the matter with the Centre or PM in the past 24 years.
“There has been a long delay and Odisha is suffering. The new Odisha government will discuss the matter with the Chhattisgarh government, Centre and present Odisha’s stand at all the Constitutional forums for state’s interest,” said Pujari.
Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said there is now a ‘triple engine’ in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and at the Centre and the Congress will resort to agitation if the Mahanadi dispute is not resolved under such circumstances.
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“There is not only a double engine; but a triple-engine setup in this case. The people of Odisha have hopes that water will flow into Mahanadi.”