Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 29:

Chhattisgarh government has not provided all data on dams and barrages being constructed by it upstream of Mahanadi barring some information on Arpa and Bhainsajor projects, stated Odisha Water Resources Secretary Pradip Jena here today.

Chhattisgarh barrage over Mahanadi

Jena said Odisha has again written a letter to Chhattisgarh government to provide complete data on projects upstream of Mahanadi.

“Chhattisgarh has provided some information on Arpa and Bhainsajor projects. We have written to them to provide all information. This apart they had also sought some information from us. Odisha government has provided them with all information sought by them,” informed Jena.

Pradip Jena

Dispute has arisen between the two riparian states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh over the latter’s construction of some projects on the upper catchment of Mahanadi.

A joint meeting of the two states to resolve the dispute was held at the office of the Union Water Resources department on July 29.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary and senior officials of both the states.

At the meeting, Odisha had demanded from Chhattisgarh information on existing, ongoing and proposed projects upstream of Mahanadi.

Chhattisgarh had promised to provide the information within 15 days.

Since Chhattisgarh did not provide the same within the stipulated period Odisha government apprised the Centre on the matter.

Even after that, the neighbouring state did not provide Odisha with the information.

It was only after Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti’s intervention that Chhattisgarh government has provided some information on Arpa and Bhainsajor projects.

However, the neighbouring state is yet to share information on other projects.