The Mahanadi Bachao Andholan on Thursday demanded that the Mahanadi Tribunal issue an interim order to stop construction of barrages upstream Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh until the water dispute between Chhattisgarh and Odisha is resolved.
The Andolan made this demand at a meeting held here with experts, political leaders and representatives of social organisations and Mahanadi catchment areas. Members demanded the tribunal issue final order within stipulated time period and issue an interim order directing for stopping of all ongoing and completed barrages upstream Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh.
Besides, the members wanted that focus should be given on maintaingi of natural water flow in the river, cancellation of illegally-constructed projects, checking of water pollution and protection of bio-diversity of the river. They also demanded that livelihood source dependent of the river and tourism sites along the river be protected.
Besides, they demanded that an environmental study be conducted and a report be submitted before the tribunal.
The Andolon decided to hold such discussion meetings at Jharsuguda in western Odisha, at Angul in Central Odisha and at Paradip in coastal Odisha and a report would be prepared and presented to the State Government.
The report would help the State Government in keeping people’s views before the tribunal.
Among others, former Water Resources Chief Engineer Dr BB Das, Ramesh Chandra Tripathi, Sharat Mohanty, Lalit Mohan Patnaik, Congress’s Prof Kailash Acharya, CPM’s Suresh Panigrahi, CPIML’s Yuddhistir Mohapara, SPs Sudarshan Pradhan and Forward Bloc’s Jyoti Mohapatra, Dr Seba Mohapatra, Nirad Khuntia, Bijay Pradhan, Arun Jena, Prasanna Bisoi, Ashok Jena and Amiya Pandab attended the meeting, presided over by Andolan convenor Sudarshan Das.
