Mahanadi issue: BJD workers stage dharna in Odisha’s Bargarh

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bargarh/Raigad, Jul 26:

Members of Odisha’s ruling party-Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today staged a dharna in front of the District Collector’s office in Bargarh opposing construction of barrages by the Chhattisgarh government upstream of river Mahanadi.

BJD workers and leaders had staged a similar dharna on Monday in front of the District Collector’s office in Sambalpur.

The party will hold similar dharnas in 15 districts in phases till August 11.

The BJD has alleged that the Chhattisgarh government was planning to dry up river Mahanadi which is the lifeline of Odisha.

The party has therefore demanded before the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Central government to direct Chhattisgarh government to immediately stop construction work on the barrage.

In a related development, a delegation of the Congress legislature party from Odisha which is on a visit to Chhattisgarh to make an on-spot assessment on the progress in the construction of a barrage over river Mahanadi there faced opposition from supporters of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi.

Jogi’s supporters opposed the delegation in Raigad and 20 of them have been arrested by the police.

Jogi who recently quit Congress and has floated a new political outfit of his own named as Chhattisgarh Janata Congress Party had earlier announced at a press conference  to oppose the delegation.