At a time when the ruling BJD is intensifying its protests against the BJP Governments in Chhattisgarh and at the Centre over construction of barrages on the Mahanadi by Chhattisgarh, the BJP heavyweights here fought between themselves over an agreement reportedly made between the Odisha and Madhya Pradesh Governments on Mahanadi water distribution in 1983.
On Monday when BJP State president Basanta Panda reiterated Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s observation that the Odisha Government must come forward to resolve the issue as per the agreement between the Odisha and Madhya Pradesh Governments signed in 1983, senior party leader Bijay Mohapatra said those who are talking about the agreement are supporting the Chhattisgarh Government.
“The State Government should resolve the dispute as per the 1983 agreement. By not doing so, it is politicising the issue,” Panda said.
Union Minister Pradhan had earlier citing the 1983 agreement between Odisha Chief Minister Janaki Ballav Patnaik and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Arjun Singh with the mediation of the Central Water Commission envisaging formation of a Joint Management Board on Mahanadi water distribution suggested that the State Government should expedite the formation of a board.
Strongly reacting to the observations of his party leaders, Bijay Mohapatra said there was no agreement signed between Odisha and Madhya Pradesh about the Hirakud and Mahanadi water distribution.
“I am sure that the 1983 agreement never involves water distribution of Mahanadi or Hirakud. Those who are raising the 1983 agreement are supporting Chhattisgarh,” said Mohapatra Meanwhile, leader of Opposition in State legislative Assembly Narasingha Mishra urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to call an all-party meeting to discuss the issue.
“If the Chief Minister decides not convene a meeting, I will convene such a meeting as it is of prime importance to the interest of the State,” said Mishra.
Mishra will lead a seven-member team of his party MlAs to Chhattisgarh for a ground-level study on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the BJD on Monday took to the streets against the unilateral construction of barrages and dams and other proposed projects in the Mahanadi upper catchment by Chhattisgarh.
The BJD would protest in 15 districts situated along the river basin in phases till August 21.
On Monday, BJD youth wing activists staged a demonstration in front of the Sambalpur district Collectorate protesting the unilateral decision of the Chhattisgarh Government.
Youth wing president and Minister Sanjay Dasburma, MPs Prasanna Acharya and Nagendra Pradhan, Minister Snehangini Chhuria, local MlA Dr Raseswari Panigrahi and Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) Chairman Kishore Mohanty participated in the demonstration.