Chhattisgarh has reduced Mahanadi water flow in Odisha, admits Union Mini Dharmendra Pradhan

KalingaTV News Network

Sambalpur: Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday admitted that Odisha is not getting the required water from Mahanadi river during non-monsoon months because Chhattisgarh has reduced the downstream flow of water.

Addressing a press conference here on the completion of four years of the BJP-led central government, Pradhan said that the water flow into the Mahanadi’s lower catchment area has been affected due to the construction of barrages in the upper catchment areas in Chhattisgarh.

The Union Minister, at the same time, blamed the Odisha government saying that it has not made any provision to store water in the lower catchment areas of Hirakud reservoir, as a result of which the water is flowing into the sea.

He also said that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should take steps to put pressure on the Chhattisgarh government to release water to Odisha.

On the other hand, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) said that the Central government should put pressure on the Chhattisgarh government to release water for the benefit of the people of Odisha.

“Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should influence the Union government to pressurise Chhattisgarh to stop barrage construction until further orders from tribunal if he is really concerned about Mahanadi water issue,” said senior BJD leader and Odisha Finance Minister Shashi Bhusan Behera while addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar.

Likewise, BJD leader Sanjay Das Burma urges the Union Minister to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh and request him to take immediate steps. Besides, he threatened that BJD will launch 3rd Mahanadi Surakhya Abhiyan if Odisha is deprived of Mahanadi water.

“Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should clarify his stand over Mahanadi water dispute, must explain how and when Chhattisgarh will stop construction of barrages and he should ask Chhattisgarh to allow water to Odisha during non-monsoon period,” said BJD MP Soumya Ranjan Patnaik.

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