Won’t jeopardise interest of people: Odisha CM on Mahanadi row

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Sep 18:

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on his return from Delhi today reiterated that his government will take all necessary steps to see that the interest of people of Odisha is not affected.

“I can assure you that we will take all necessary steps to see that the interest of the people of Odisha is not affected,” reiterated Patnaik on his return from Delhi in his reactions on the outcome of the tripartite talks on the Mahanadi water sharing dispute held yesterday.

“As you know the Mahanadi river is the lifeline of Odisha. It serves 65% of our population in way of drinking water, irrigation, power generation, fisheries etc. Also if this construction work carries on in Chhattisgarh it will damage the delicate environmental balance in such sanctuaries as Satkosia, Bhitarkanika and the Chilika Lake,” he said explaining on the extent of damage construction upstream of Mahanadi was going to cause in Odisha.

Giving details of yesterday’s tripartite talks Patnaik said:  “At the yesterday’s meeting with the Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh I insisted that the construction work on the Mahanadi including the barrages should stop immediately till the expert committee can look into the whole matter.”

“Sadly, the Chhattisgarh government refused to stop construction work. And unfortunately, the Central government didn’t insist either on this matter to the Chhattisgarh government,” the Chief Minister pointed out.

The Chief Minister further informed that he has called a meeting of the Cabinet this evening and will decide on what further steps to take.