Expert team from Odisha blames Chhattisgarh for stopping Mahanadi water

Bhubaneswar: The Mahanadi river water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh doesn’t seem to end soon as an inspection team which visited several projects in Chhattisgarh found that the neighbouring State is not releasing adequate amount of river water.

According to sources, the team led by the Chief Engineer of Hirakud dam Jyotirmayee Ratha visited several projects in Chhattisgarh.

During the visit it was revealed that only one gate has been opened at the Kalma barrage. Similarly, the team found closed gates in Sheorinarayan, Basantpur, Mironi and Saradihi barrages leading to lesser flow of Mahanadi water.

The team also inspected the flow and storage of water at various dams in Chhattisgarh.

Recently, the statement of the new Water Resources Minister Rabindra Choubeyof the neighbouring state had raised doubts about the settlement. Choubey had said that Chhattisgarh has full rights over river Mahanadi.

Earlier, the Odisha unit of the Congress party was quite optimistic about settlement of the inter-state Mahanadi river water dispute with Chhattisgarh after the formation of the new government in the neighbouring state.