Bhubaneswar: Reiterating its vehement protest against the Centre on Polavaram and Mahanadi issues, the ruling BJD government today made it clear that it will not make any compromise on these issues.
Speaking at a preparatory meeting at the Idcol auditorium here to kickstart a signature campaign and a mega human chain on Mahanadi issue, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said the BJD has always fought for the people of Odisha. The party has also vehemently protested the gross apathy of the Centre towards Odisha. The attitude shown by the Centre towards Odisha on Mahanadi and Polavaram issues has triggered resentment among the people of our state.
Talking about Polavaram issue, the chief minister said the Centre is keen on expediting the project work while the matter is sub judice which gives a clear indication that the Centre is not bothered about the socio-economic plight of the poor tribals of Odisha who will lose their homestead land and livelihood once the project is completed. “Not only Odisha, the neighbouring states like Chhattisgarh and Telengana have also strongly protested the Polavaram project. But the Centre has turned a deaf ear to the genuine grievances of the tribals of Malkangiri district. While the Centre always talks about development with the cooperation of the people, it is a matter of utter regret that the message of the Centre is yet to reach to the poor tribals of Odisha,” Patnaik noted.
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On the Mahanadi issue, he said it seems that the Centre lacks sincerity in resolving the issue between Odisha and Chhattisgarh. “I had attended the tripartite meeting convened by the Centre. I had gone to New Delhi after consulting various political parties, organisations, experts and eminent personalities with regard to Mahanadi issue. At the meeting, I had urged the Centre to stop the construction work of all projects in the upper stream of Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh. But sadly, the Centre extended its tacit support to the Chhattisgarh government due to political affiliation. Later, I had written a letter to the Prime Minister requesting him to intervene in the matter. Unfortunately there has been no response from the Prime Minister till date,” the chief minister lamented.
“Mahanadi is the lifeline of Odisha as the river is innately associated with the livelihood, culture, religion and development of the state. No one can deprive the people of Odisha of using Mahanadi water,” he maintained.
Stating that on Mahanadi issue, the state government has done whatever is possible under the federal structure, he said to safeguard the future of the people of Odisha, the state government has decided to take legal recourse.
The chief minister also said the Congress-led UPA government during its tenure had provided maximum funding to Polavaram project as well as the projects built in upper Mahanadi.
“The Centre has accorded national status to the Polaravam project. Now both the Congress and the BJP in Odisha are shedding crocodile tears. The present BJP government at the Centre has the power to stop the construction of projects on upper Mahanadi. But it is not willing to do. Taking note of the gross apathy of the Centre, the BJD has decided to launch a signature campaign across the state from November 11. Besides, the party has also decided to form a 400-km human chain from Hirakud to Paradip. “The objective of forming the human chain is a part of the campaign of the BJD to make people aware of the Polavaram and Mahanadi issue,” Patnaik said and urged his party men to work sincerely for the success of the programme.
On the other hand, the opposition BJP and Congress have criticised the state government on this issue.
“The BJD government which is in power since 16 years has gone in deep slumber. Now that the Mahanadi issue has cropped up, the state government has no other way except blaming the Centre which is ridiculous. “Instead of taking up the matter with the Prime Minister through proper forum, the ruling party has resorted to agitations like demonstrating in front of the collectors’ offices and forming human chain as a mark of protest. Can such agitations will ever resolve the Mahanadi row? Rather, the Odisha government and its Chhattisgarh counterpart should jointly find a solution to the ongoing row,” BJP state president Basant Panda told media persons here.
Taking a dig at the state government, senior Congress leader and Opposition leader Narasingh Mishra said it is ridiculous for a sinner calling others as sinners. “The BJD, particularly the chief minister, is shedding crocodile tears. “It is high time that the chief minister, instead of hoodwinking the people of Odisha, should seriously take up legal recourse on Mananadi issue with utmost sincerity to safeguard the interest of the state,” he pointed out.
In his reaction, BJD Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharya said the former Congress-led UPA government and the present BJP-led NDA government in the Centre have thoroughly discriminated Odisha and ignored its concern. “Both the government should be taken to task for the gross injustice they have meted out to the state,” he added.