Mahanadi row: CM leaves for Delhi to attend tripartite meeting

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik left for Delhi today afternoon to attend a tripartite meeting tomorrow regarding finding a solution to the Mahanadi water row.

The chief minister will present the view of the State on the Mahanadi issue at the tripartite meeting, which will be attended by Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh and Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti.

To find a solution to the Mahanadi water issue, which emerged after Odisha opposed the construction of barrages by the Chhattisgarh government on the upper catchment areas of the river, the Union Water Resources Minister had asked both the State governments to suggest a date in between September 10 and 20 to hold a discussion. The Odisha government had requested the Ministry to organise talks on September 17.

Also read: Odisha well prepared for tripartite talk on Mahanadi issue

Meanwhile, a fact finding team of BJD, which conducted an on-the-spot verification of the projects undertaken by the Chhattisgarh government on the Mahanadi river last month under the chairmanship of MP Prasanna Acharya, has submitted its report to the Chief Minister.

On the other hand, in recent few days, several organisations met the Chief Minister at the State Secretariat and gave suggestions to resolve the issue.

Sources at BJD said more than 15,000 well wishers and party supporters as well as MPs and ministers will see off the Chief Minister at the Bhubaneswar airport today afternoon.