Bhubaneswar: Alleging conspiracy by the Centre and the Chhattisgarh State government for the delay in formation of the Mahanadi tribunal, BJD legislators today sloganeered and created a din in the Odisha Assembly.
After the House proceedings were adjourned till 3 pm, the legislators carrying banners, rallied to the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the premises of the Assembly and staged a dharna.
As soon as the House assembled for today’s business, ruling party members stood beside their seats and shouted slogans against the Centre. Following the disturbance, Food Supplies minister Surya Narayan Patro, who was replying to a query in the House during Question Hour, could not complete his statements.
Unable to run the House due to ruckus, Speaker Pradip Amat adjourned the proceeding till 3 pm.
Though the Centre announced to form the Mahanadi tribunal on March 12 as per directive of the Supreme Court, the terms of reference have not been communicated to the State government, alleged the ruling party members.
“The terms of reference have not been communicated yet to the Chief Secretary. Why the Centre is dilly-dallying to form the tribunal? We will continue our fight to safeguard interests of Odisha,” Government chief whip Amar Prasad Satpathy.
The ruling party is also opposing construction of another barrage over Ib river by Chhattisgarh government citing that it will lead to water scarcity in Odisha which is already suffering due to several projects over the Mahanadi river.
On the other hand, Opposition leader Narasingha Mishra said the ruling party should have cooperated in running the house. He questioned why the two House committees on Mahanadi have not met yet.
BJP legislator Pradip Purohit said that the ruling party members were only playing drama.