**Bhubaneswar:** Dashing an urgent letter to the Prime Minister on Tuesday (June 6) drawing his attention again to the ongoing Mahanadi Water Dispute, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik strongly urged for immediate constitution of the Tribunal and instruct Chhattisgarh to open the gates of Kalma and other barrages to maintain free flow of water downstream.
“May I again bring to your kind attention the Mahanadi Water Dispute forced by the high handed acts of upper riparian State of Chhattisgarh against my downstream State of Odisha and its inhabitants,” Naveen begins his strongly worded letter to the Prime Minister.
The Odisha CM also mentions, “Despite passage of more than six months, no steps have been taken by the Central Government allowing Chhattisgarh to uninterruptedly go ahead with disputed projects in Mahanadi river basin. My State has also approached the Hon’ble Supreme Court and on the last occasion while adjourning the matter to 25th July 2017, has requested the Additional Solicitor General representing the Central Government to take instructions on the formation of a Tribunal as demanded.”
Taking umbrage, the Odisha CM also adds, “On 3rd June 2017, I had written to my counterpart Shri Raman Singhji for immediate opening of the gates of Kalma barrage in order to ensure free flow of water in the downstream of Mahanadi. But, till date neither have I received any official response from him nor has he got the gates opened restoring the free flow of water.”