BJP conspired to sell Chilika, says Naveen

Banapur: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today cornered the BJP-led Centre for its previous plan for Chilika lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon.

Slamming the BJP at a public meeting during election campaign at Banapur, Patnaik alleged that Centre had made conspiracy to sell Chilika.

“The BJP government at Centre had conspired to sell Chilika. It had tried to put thousands of fishermen, who are dependent on Chilika for livelihood, in trouble,” he said.

He termed Chilika as ‘mother’ saying he will not allow anyone to play with the State’s asset and people’s occupation.

“Chilika is our mother and it has provided livelihood to thousands of fishermen. I will never let anyone destroy Chilika as long as I am alive,” Patnaik said.

On Centre’s policy on highway construction, he lambasted the BJP government at his address.

“We want new road. But the BJP wants to widen the old highways by destroying lakhs of consolidated land,” Patnaik alleged.

Worth mentioning, Patnaik’s allegation against BJP reminds of the Centre’s past water aerodrome proposal at Chilika lake.

Read more: Odisha’s Chilika gets in-principle approval for water aerodrome

However, the seaplane project was cancelled after drawing flak from various quarters.

Read more: Odisha: Centre cancels water aerodrome project in Chilika