Halt work on Mahanadi projects, Odisha urges Chhattisgarh

Bhubaneswar: Further intensifying its fight at an administrative level, Odisha chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi sought immediate halt to the work of various projects on the upper catchment areas of Mahanadi through a letter to his Chhattisgarh counterpart today.

Padhi has also requested the neighbouring State to release the required amount of water needed for Odisha through the projects that have already been completed.

According to sources, the letter from the chief secretary mentions the amount of water that Chhattisgarh is currently using and the effects of future water usage on Odisha. The letter also informs the Chhattisgarh government about the petition filed by Odisha government with the Union Water Resources ministry and the demand for formation of a tribunal to settle the dispute.

Also Read: Odisha to move SC if Centre is averse to formation of tribunal

“We have asked them to stop work on all the ongoing projects and to release the desired amount of water through the completed barrages. We have requested them to act immediately,” said Padhi.

On the other hand, BJP and BJD confronted each other on the demand for a tribunal and the letter of the chief secretary.

“We will take the necessary steps required in all the issues. We will move the court, we will approach the central government and will also place our demands before the Chhattisgarh government. If required we will also take to the streets,” said BJD spokesperson Rabi Narayan Nanda.

“We are bearing the brunt of state government’s attempt to politicise the matter and everyone is facing humiliation. The easy and the swift way to ensure that the work is stopped on the projects is through discussions,” said BJP’s Prithwiraj Harichandan.