LIVE TV
India
Recommended Stories
New Delhi: BJD MPs today protested a host of projects being built by Chhattisgarh in the upper catchment areas of Mahanadi. Demanding discussion on the matter, BJD MPs staged a walkout in Lok Sabha. Moreover, in Rajya Sabha, the party MPs moved an adjournment motion in this connection.
Earlier, they staged a demonstration on the parliament premises in protest.
BJD MPs were seen protesting the projects holding placards near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to resolve the matter.
“A few weeks back, we came to know a dam is being planned on the upstream area of Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh. The protocol which should be followed by maintaining proper co-ordination with the concerned authorities and the Odisha government has not been followed. The proposed dam will have significant effect on Odisha and Hirakud dam as water level in Mahanadi will decline. The issue was raised by CM Naveen Patnaik before the Prime Minister during the inter-state meeting,” said BJD MP Baijayant Panda.
“In Chhattisgarh, BJP is in power and is supporting the project. Under such circumstances, the party is liable to come under suspicion and would lose its vote bank for allowing such a project, which is hurting the interests of Odisha. The party should be aware of the ramifications and the PM should discuss this with his party members and the Chhattisgarh Water Resources minister to resolve the issue. Else, Odisha people will definitely give a fitting reply to such injustice,” said BJD MP Nagendra Pradhan.
Anang Uday Singhdeo had raised the issue in Rajya Sabha yesterday.
Curiously, only 14 of the party's 27 MPs were seen at the protest venue leading to sarcastic comment in the social media wondering if the others did not oppose the Chhattisgarh move.
On the other hand, responding to BJD's stand on the matter, BJP leader Suresh Pujari said that the BJD government has the option to approach the Central government or the Supreme Court in this matter. Moreover, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should take up the matter with his Chhhattisgarh counterpart. The State government should prepare a report on the extent of loses that Odisha is likely to suffer on account of the projects and BJP is always there to extend its help to the State government."
