New Delhi: Demanding a halt in Chhattisgarh barrage project works over Mahanadi river, nearly 20 Odisha MPs staged a protest by holding placards and shouting slogans near Mahatma Gandhi statue on the premises of the Parliament today.
MP Kulamani Samal stated, “All BJD members of Parliament have gathered today to protest negligence meted out by the Centre towards Odisha regarding Mahanadi water.”
Expressing similar views, Dhenkanal MP Tathagat Satpathy, said, “We demand the Centre should immediately form a water tribunal to address inter-state river water issue. Odisha people will never tolerate any kind of negligence.”
Baijayant Panda said every possible step will be taken to safeguard the interest of Odisha people.
Under the aegis of Aagami Odisha, the leaders and MPs of different parties are holding a five-day protest to put pressure on the Centre to constitute a tribunal to resolve the inter-state water sharing dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
Yesterday Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik, BJD MPs Tathagat Satpathy, Nagendra Pradhan, Kulamani Samal, Pratap Deb, Ladu Kishore Swain and Prabhas Singh along with water activist Rajendra Singh sat on the dharna near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi demanding allocation of Odisha’s rights over Mahanadi river.
However, absence of Union minsters Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram at the dharna spot despite sending an invitation has disappointed the protesting Odia leaders.
A team of delegates is also scheduled to meet the President, Prime Minister and Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti during the Satyagraha and apprise them on the water sharing dispute.