Mahanadi Tribunal Row: Odisha LoP Narasingha Mishra slams Centre, State Govt

KalingaTV News Network

Bhubaneswar: Veteran Congress leader and LoP Narasingha Mishra on Thursday came down heavily on the Union Government as well as the Naveen Government, a day after the Centre, in an affidavit before the Supreme Court, denied to constitute a tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Speaking to media persons today, Mishra said, “The Centre has betrayed the people of Odisha. As per the law, the Centre is bound to constitute a tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi River water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, but the Centre has refused to form the same citing baseless reasons. This is one of the biggest violations of law. Instead of being the protector, the Union Government has acted as the destroyer.”

WATCH: Opposition Leader @NarasinghMishra lambastes at Centre, says it has acted partisan by declining on #Odisha’s requests for forming #MahanadiTribunal pic.twitter.com/ThIF6tyNP0

— Kalinga TV (@Kalingatv24x7) December 7, 2017

“The Congress had earlier extended its support to Naveen Government and requested the Chief Minister to call an all-party meeting to protect Mahanadi River and unitedly fight against the Centre for the interest of people of the state, but unfortunately, the State Government didn’t pay a heed to the concerns,” he claimed.

As per law central govt must constitute a tribunal for inter state disputes within a year of receiving requests from either state . The central govt has acted partisan by declining on Odisha’s requests. State govt has neither shown competency nor is it willing to seek help .

— Narasingha Mishra (@NarasinghMishra) December 7, 2017

On Wednesday, the Centre filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court saying there is no need to constitute a tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi river water dispute between the two states.

Among other things, the Centre has stated that the Government of Odisha has not submitted necessary information in this connection.

“It is submitted that no irreparable loss or irreversible injury has been caused by the State of Chhattisgarh to Plantiff State (Odisha) in respect of Mahanadi River. The Plaintiff has failed to adduce any evidence that rights of plaintiff on River Mahanadi have been adversely affected,” said the affidavit.