Odisha Assly adopts unanimous resolution to pressurize Centre for Mahanadi tribunal

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Dec 13, 2017 at 9:49 PM

Bhubaneswar: Cutting across party lines members in the Odisha Assembly today adopted a unanimous resolution to pressurize Centre for constituting a Tribunal to resolve the State’s dispute over sharing of river Mahanadi water with Chhattisgarh.

During the debate on the motion moved by the ruling party-BJD, the Centre was in the firing line. BJD members accused the Centre of injustice towards Odisha.

Dussehra preparations kick off with collection of holy soil in Odisha’s Cuttack

Over 1 lakh people affected by rain, flood-like situation in Odisha: SRC

Both BJD and Congress members criticized the Centre for having violated the provisions of the Inter-State River Disputes Act by expressing its unwillingness to constitute a Tribunal over the Mahanadi dispute despite promising for the same in the Parliament and Supreme Court. Congress members also criticized the State government in the matter.

On the other hand, BJP members argued in the House that the Centre in its submission before the Supreme Court hasn’t outright declined for the constitution of a Tribunal to resolve Mahanadi dispute.

“The deadline 19 November 2017 for constituting the Tribunal is over. So it is a violation of the law and as well as of the Constitution. The Centre should constitute the Tribunal. This was what we debated in the House,” informed Amar Satapathy, Government Chief Whip speaking to reporters outside the House.

“The Central government has betrayed the people of Odisha and their interests. Since their party is in the government in Chhattisgarh, they have indirectly attempted to help it. This is condemnable,” stated Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra outside the Assembly.

The BJP however, was of the opinion that both the BJD and the Congress are not fighting for protecting Mahanadi water rather were indulging in politics.

“Biju Janata Dal, Odisha government and Congress-none of them are fighting to protect Mahanadi water. They are busy doing politics over the Mahanadi issue. The matter is in the Supreme Court, any debate here in the Assembly won’t provide a solution to the issue,” said Pradip Purohit, BJP leader and MLA from Padmapur.

mahanadi