The Forum for Policy Dialogue in Water Conflicts in India expressed deep concern over politicisation of Mahanadi water row between Odisha and Chhattisgarh and urged both States to come out with a river policy for judicious use of the river water giving priority to drinking water and irrigation needs.
In its meeting held at Raipur on August 11, it said the real issue is not one of Chhattisgarh versus Odisha, but one of protecting the original natural conditions of the river and the environment. It said time has come for the State Governments and the political parties in Odisha and Chhattisgarh to make clear a policy around water use that prioritises domestic and agriculture needs.
The participants strongly felt that the inter-state issue is being raked up by these political parties to divert the people’s attention from the basic issue.
The basic issue is that both State Governments are looking at the Mahanadi as a resource to benefit the industries and this is completely against the interests of the farmers and the people. The critical question in the context of this fight is why these political parties of both the States are not concerned about the original form of the river when it is increasingly becoming clear that the water flow in the river is steadily decreasingIJ
With continuous interventions in the river in the form of dams and barrages the river’s original character is being destroyed, pointed out the forum.
The other critical issue is about inter-sectoral water allocations and use. While both the State Governments are determined to increase the water allocation to industries they do not seem to be concerned about making water available to agriculture and to meet basic domestic water needs. This pro-industry policy becomes all the more clear as there is no provision for water for agriculture in the seven barrages that are being executed in Chhattisgarh, it said further.
Similarly, more water from the Hirakud dam and downstream delta region is being allocated for industrial use. This is also destroying the livelihoods of both river bed cultivators as well as the fishers. The third important issue is the rising pollution in the river affecting the drinking water, water for irrigation and the aquatic life. The meeting discussed in detail issues related to agriculture and industrial water allocation and use, environmental flows, water pollution and groundwater use in the basin.
The forum urged not to create misunderstanding amongst the people of Chhattisgarh and Odisha on the issue of Mahanadi waters ; prepare a very clear and transparent policy on the water of the river by taking into confidence the local communities; undertake a comprehensive study and ensure that the new structures do not affect both the basic character of the river and flow in the river, stop illegal industrial water use and pollution.
Among others, it was attended by KJ Joy, Himanshu Kulkarni, Manoj Mishra, Nafisa Bharot, Partha Das, Abraham Samuel and Eklavya Prasad of The Forum for Policy Dialogue in Water Conflicts , Anand Mishra, Nandkumar Kashyap, journalist lalit Surjan, lakhan Singh, Parivesh Mishra, Alok Shukla and Prafulla Samantara.