Odisha CM raises Mahanadi, Polavaram issue at inter-state council meeting

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
New Delhi, Apr 9:

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik raised Mahanadi water sharing dispute and Polavaram issue at Inter-state council standing committee meeting headed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here today.

He opposed Polavaram project and demanded to stop the construction of barrages on the upper catchment area of Mahanadi River in neighbouring Chhattisgarh.

He also demanded to constitute a tribunal to resolve the water dispute.

“Adopt principles of fair playing and pseudo polity and discontinue the Polavaram project. And lastly, constitute a tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi water dispute and in the interim stop to construction activity in Mahanadi base in Chhattisgarh to protect the livelihood of people of Odisha”, Patnaik told media persons after the meeting.

He also informed the committee about the State’s support to Punchhi Commission recommendations.

“I informed the standing committee of the Inter-state council firstly that Odisha supports the Punchhi Commission recommendations in the strengthening the autonomy of the states and defining the role of the Governor. Secondly, Odisha deserves the same sharing pattern of funds as per north-eastern Himalayan states on account of five percentages of the population below the poverty line. Thirdly, earmark 60% of the clean environment cess for the coal-bearing states”, he said.

He urged to address the low telecom connectivity and low financial inclusion and to stop demanding reimbursement of cost of deployment of CAPF in the Maoist affected areas.

“Address the critical deficiency of low telecom connectivity, low financial inclusion and lower bank credit in Odisha on priority. Next, stop demanding reimbursement of cost of deployment of CAPF from LWE affected states”, he said.

Patnaik demanded to provide funds for Malkangiri-Jeypore and Jeypore-Nabarangpur rail project.

“Provide us good funds for Malkangiri-Jeypore and Jeypore-Nabarangpur rail project to connect in Maoists affected areas. Next, provide good funds for repair of national highways passing through Odisha”, he said.

During the meeting, Patnaik discussed Bhadrak unrest situation with Union Minister Rajnath Singh.

“I requested him to send two companies of Rapid Action Force to the violence-hit Bhadrak”, he told media.

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