CPI(M) asks Naveen to take all in confidence on Mahanadi issue

Bhubaneswar: CPI(M) today suggested that the Odisha government take all stakeholders into confidence on the Mahanadi issue as Chhattishgarh constructed several projects on the upstream "causing harm" to the state.

"The chief minister must shun ego and take all the stakeholders into confidence to launch Odisha's protest over the Mahanadi issue," Janadran Pati, the CPI(M) state secretariat member told reporters here.

Stating that the state government should immediately start discussion with both Chhattisgarh government and the Centre, Pati said "the state should initiate legal action and demand formation of a tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi issue."

Ridiculing the ruling BJD for staging demonstration on Mahanadi issue before district collector's office, the CPI(M) said politics would not solve the problem.

The party leader Suresh Panigrah said "as the issue is affecting about 65 per cent of the state's population, it is necessary to publish a white paper and inform people about the steps being taken to address the problem."