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Bhubaneswar: Close on the heels of the Mahanadi water sharing dispute with Chhattisgarh, Odisha is likely to run into similar dispute with neighbouring Jharkhand, believes BJP MLA Dilip Ray.
The senior BJP leader on Friday raised an alarm over shrinking water level of Brahmani river.
In a Facebook post, Ray has attributed the significant drop in the water level mainly due to the sharp fall in water flow in two of its tributaries—Shankh and Koel.
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“Rourkela- whose industrial and domestic water needs depend on the Mandira dam built over river Shankh is poised to face severe water crisis in the future. I can foresee a disastrous scenario in the next 15 to 20 years if the problem is not addressed with due seriousness,” Ray said in his post.
Apart from Rourkela, agricultural and industrial activities of five major districts of the state--Sundargarh, Dhenkanal,Anugul,Jajpur and Kendrapara also depend on the water of Brahmani.
Dilip Ray has further accused Jharkhand Government of not taking cognizance in building dams upstream without assessing its possible negative impact on Odisha.
The legislator also blamed the State government for its ‘unconcerned’ attitude and not taking up the construction of projects with Jharkhand authorities.
Ray urged the Odisha government to convene a special session of assembly to discuss on the issue of Mahanadi and Brahmani for addressing such issues.
“Odisha government should act and take a strong stand over the issue to safeguard the interest of the people of the state. It has to be seen if the provisions of the Inter-State Water disputes Act have been compiled by the concerned states or any violation has taken place,” Ray added.
