Misc case in HC seeks to make  Odisha CM and CWC parties in PIL on Mahanadi issue

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Sep 16:

A misc case was filed in the Orissa High Court today seeking to make Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the Central Water Commission (CWC) parties in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Mahanadi issue.

Mahanadi Bachao Manch, the outfit which is the petitioner in the PIL on the Mahanadi issue filed the misc case for making Patnaik and CWC parties in the case contending that the Chief Minister was aware of the construction of barrages by Chhattisgarh on the upstream of Mahanadi.

The Manch has argued that way back in 2001, the Chief Minister had in the state Assembly replied to a question by MLA late Ashok Das on the construction of barrages by Chhattisgarh on river Mahanadi.

It has also further cited that the Chief Minister had also replied last year to a query of BJP MLA from Brajrajnagar seeking to know the status of construction of barrages by Chhattisgarh on the upper catchment of Mahanadi.

Hence the Chief Minister though was aware of the matter had done nothing, the petitioner contended.

“Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while replying to a query by MLA Radharani Panda in the state Assembly in 2015 had discussed the matter. Central Water Commission (CWC) too was aware of it but had done nothing. Therefore, the petitioner has filed a misc case to make CWC and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik parties in the case,” informed Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, petitioner’s counsel.

The court has scheduled the hearing on the matter for next week.