Privilege motion against Odisha CM on Mahanadi issue

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Dec 15:

The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Odisha Assembly Narasingha Mishra today moved a privilege motion against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for providing misleading information on Mahanadi in the House.

Mishra stated that the Chief Minister had provided such misleading information on Mahanadi to the House during debate on a calling attention notice on August 5, 2010.

The LoP further said that the BJD spokesperson should be made liable for breach of privilege for his recent statement that often wrong information is provided in the Assembly.

“It will be much better if the information provided in the House in 2001 is taken into account. In 2001 the Chief Minister had stated in the House that barrages/dams being constructed or to be constructed by Chhattisgarh would reduce the inflow of water into Hirakud Dam. Which means that he had knowledge of which were already constructed or were being constructed or would be constructed since then. And having knowledge of all that after nine years he told Hirakud was drawing 24 percent more water during the non-monsoon period despite the construction of dams and barrages. Again in 2016, he replied that there would be no reduction in the inflow. Therefore, when all these facts are presented privilege committee will be certainly forced to take a decision that the Chief Minister has provided erroneous facts in the House and has misled it,” Mishra stated outside the House briefing reporters.

Reacting on Mishra’s motion, BJD spokesperson Samir Dash has said: “Deputy Speaker has informed the Speaker about the privilege motion and the Speaker will take a call on that.”