Bhubaneswar: At a time when ongoing Mahanadi water dispute continues to keep State politics charged, the ruling-BJD was visibly irked over another barrage on Mahanadi River for which the Chhattisgarh government has reportedly invited tender.
On the third day of the second phase of the Budget Session of Odisha Assembly today, BJD legislator Amar Satpathy lambasted both the Centre and the Chhattisgarh Government for unilateral construction of barrages on Mahanadi.
Satpathy alleged that while the Green Tribunal, on July 26 last year, had directed the neighbouring State not to construct any more barrages, the latter has ignored the instruction by inviting tenders for construction of Sirpur-Mohamela barrage at a project cost of Rs 176 crore. The State Water Resources secretary has written a letter in this regard to the secretaries of Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, he added.
"The State is facing issues in electricity generation and supply of drinking water. As the Centre did not interfere in it, Supreme Court gave instruction to constitute a tribunal so that the State government could put its stand before the tribunal and stay construction of barrages. But till date the Centre has not given any stay order," said Satpathy.
BJD MLA Sanjay Dasburma also questioned why the Centre has not provided the terms of reference for the Mahanadi tribunal till date. Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi has also written a letter in this regard to the Union Water Resources Secretary, he informed.
"Chhattisgarh government unilaterally has floated a tender for construction of Sirpur-Mohamela barrage. It clearly shows that Centre is providing support to the Chhattisgarh government in one way or other," added Dasburma.
BJD legislators further alleged that the inflow of water into Mahanadi has dropped by 40 per cent in March last year and by 66 per cent in April. It is being estimated that the water flow will drop by 79 per cent this year.
On the other hand, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra alleged the ruling party of disrupting the business of the House over political interests and questioned why the two House committees constituted for Mahanadi are not taking any steps.
He also targeted the Centre over delay in providing terms of reference on Mahanadi tribunal and accused the latter of deceit.
"Both the Centre and Chhattisgarh government have deceived us. They are knowingly taking steps to dilute the Supreme Court's order by not providing the terms of reference on Mahanadi tribunal on time," said Mishra.
While BJP legislators pledged to fight for the interest of the State, they alleged that the Odisha government is politicising the issue. At a time when 53 per cent of Mahanadi water is flowing into the sea why is the State government not constructing barrage downstream, questioned BJP's legislature party leader, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo.
"The ruling party is not concerned about State's interest but is doing politics. They had said in reply to a question in December last year that 53 per cent of Mahanadi water is flowing into the sea. Has the State government taken any stepd harness it? " said Deo.