Bhubaneswar: Terming the Mahanadi as the lifeline of Odisha, Deputy Leader of the BJD Legislature Party, Prasanna Acharya, on Saturday expressed serious concern over what he described as sustained neglect of the river and attempts to restrict its natural flow.
Addressing the media, Acharya alleged that the Chhattisgarh government has constructed multiple barrages upstream on the Mahanadi without Odisha’s consent, in violation of established inter-state river water norms. He said these constructions have significantly reduced the flow of water into Odisha, causing widespread damage to agriculture, ecology, and the livelihoods of people dependent on the river.
The senior BJD leader also accused the Central government and the Central Water Commission (CWC) of remaining passive despite the gravity of the issue. He claimed that substantial volumes of Mahanadi water are being diverted to private industries under the guise of irrigation projects, pushing the river towards a severe crisis and posing a serious threat to the Hirakud reservoir.
Acharya questioned the lack of progress on the dispute despite the fact that the same political party is in power at the Centre, in Chhattisgarh, and in Odisha. He noted that although the Mahanadi Tribunal case has been pending for more than seven years, the Odisha government has so far only constituted committees, with no tangible outcome.
With reports emerging that the state government is now considering an out-of-court settlement, Acharya said the people of Odisha deserve transparency and clear answers.
Five Questions Raised by BJD on the Mahanadi Issue
The BJD has sought clarification from the state government on the following points:
What are the terms and conditions of the proposed out-of-court settlement?
Does the state government intend to withdraw the case from the Mahanadi Tribunal?
Will all major political parties and Mahanadi Bachao Andolan organisations be consulted before any negotiations?
Will the Chhattisgarh government halt construction of anicuts (barrages) on the Mahanadi and its tributaries during the settlement process?
Will the state government approach the Tribunal to expedite the long-pending case?
Acharya asserted that the people of Odisha expect clear, transparent, and accountable answers from what he termed the “triple-engine government” on an issue that directly impacts the state’s future.
