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"The linking of the two rivers will enable creation of irrigation potential in Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts and mitigate the nagging problem of drinking water scarcity in Berhampur town," Pradhan, the union minister for petroleum and natural gas, told a meeting on the ocassion of some Congress and CPI leaders joining BJP.
The waters of Mahanadi river goes waste, he said adding "It can be utilized by linking these two rivers, which will benefit the people of the southern part of the state."
Criticising the state government, Pradhan said it had failed to create irrigation facilities in the three districts during its 17-year rule. The government has also "failed miserably" to solve the drinking water problem of Berhampur.
Welcoming the Congress and CPI leaders to BJP, Pradhan said now Odias want a change in the state government, which was doing nothing for the interest of Odisha.
"They have faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his people-oriented policies," he said.
Among others Manoranjan Dyansamantra, son of former speaker and senior Congress leader Chintamani Dyansamantara, Congress leader Pradeep Satapathy and senior journalist Rabi Rath joined BJP in Pradhan's presence of Pradhan.
Dyansamantra had unsucessfully contested the state assembly elections in 2014 and had resigned from Congress after the panchayat poll earlier this year.
