Odisha requests Centre for more clarity on Mahanadi water dispute

Bhubaneswar, Aug 20:

The Odisha government on Saturday requested the Centre for more clarity where Inter-State River Water Management issues are concerned. Odisha claimed it was not informed about the techno-economic clearance to the Kelo Major Irrigation Project of Chhattisgarh.

The Chief Secretaries of Odisha and Chhattisgarh had attended a meeting chaired by an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of Union Water Resources Ministry to discuss the Mahanadi water dispute in New Delhi on July 29.

Odisha State Water Resources secretary P.K. Jena requested the Union Ministry of Water Resources to issue revised minutes of the meeting by incorporating the points raised by his government.

Jena said the Chhattisgarh government had not shared any information regarding the proposed Master Plan to utilise the available water of upper Mahanadi basin.

“It appears that the said Master Plan which is believed to be currently under consideration of Central Water Commission (CWC) proposes 88 per cent utilization of the available water of upper Mahanadi basin. No information regarding this proposed Master Plan is available with Government of Odisha,” said Jena in his letter to the ministry.

He said the same has neither been shared by Chhattisgarh nor by the CWC.

He said that Odisha was not informed when the CWC gave techno-economic clearance to Kelo Major Irrigation Project of Chhattisgarh.

“Such unilateral actions by CWC are not in proper spirit of Inter-State River Water Management,” said the Water Resources secretary.

“We have requested the ministry to incorporate the points in the revised minutes of meeting and send to both the governments,” Jena told reporters here. (IANS)