Jharsuguda: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today took a jibe at the BJP Odisha unit alleging that several saffron party leaders in the State are supporting the Chhattisgarh’s projects on Mahanadi river and are shedding crocodile tears on the long-standing issue.
Addressing a public meeting after launching the Mahanadi Surakhya Yatra at Sukhasoda in Jharsuguda, Patnaik said, "BJP leaders in Odisha are supporting Chhattisgarh for its projects on Mahanadi. Some leaders are visiting Odisha and shedding crocodile tears. Both the Centre and the BJP Chhattisgarh are adopting anti-Odisha policy."
"Mahanadi remains dry in most of the year except rainy season. If BJP leaders of Odisha have sympathy for people of the State, they should oppose the neighbouring Chhattisgarh for the projects," Patnaik stated.
"Some leaders are saying that barrage construction will solve the problem. But in reality barrages will only store water and the issue cannot be resolved. Those who are making such statements are observing a double standard policy," he added.
Later, the Chief Minister went to Chikhili in Bargarh district on the other side of Mahanadi to attend the launch programme of Mahanadi Surakhya Yatra.
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Reacting to the development, BJP spokesperson Golak Mohapatra said, "The State government is intentionally not holding talks with Chhattisgarh. When a tribunal has been formed, there is not point for an agitation. BJD is trying to make an issue ahead of the ensuing polls. The Odisha government neither wants to resolve the issue nor wants to allow Chhattisgarh to utilise the river water."
In a series of tweets, Union Petroleum Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan criticised the ruling-BJD and CM Naveen Patnaik said that the CM should answer that by staging political protests and creating fear in the minds of people, is he trying resolve the problem or it is an effort to fulfill shallow political interests.
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The BJD’s second phase agitation will continue for around a fortnight and culminate in Paradip after crossing 15 districts.
During the yatra, meetings, roadside gatherings and cultural programmes in villages and towns on the routes of the rally will be held, stated BJD MP Prasanna Acharya.
Odisha has been objecting to construction of projects on Mahanadi by Chhattisgarh.
It is worth mentioning that the neighboring state has closed all the 66 gates of Kalma barrage reducing water flow into Hirakud dam.
The 857-km long Mahanadi originates in Raipur district of Madhya Pradesh and flows around 494 km through Odisha before meeting the sea. Its catchment spreads over 1.41 lakh square km in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra.