There has been a spate of activities in various quarters expressing concern about the structures that have been constructed by the Chhattisgarh Government on the river Mahanadi. Unfortunately, each political party commences the agitation almost admitting that they had no knowledge and information and no data relating to what has now emerged as a formidable situation. It is strange that the political parties do not have the data regarding the total quantum of water that on an average water flows down the Mahanadi from the upstream and catchment areas in Chhattisgarh and in the downstream areas in Odisha. There is no disclosure of the quantum that is assignable as the legitimate share of the respective States. There is no further information about the quantum of water impounded or utilised by the respective States. This is a pathetic scenario and does not speak of good governance, especially in the context of protecting a vital natural resource necessary for both power generation and irrigation.
It is also a fact that there have been no major structures between Hirakud and Paradip so as to impound the water in a significant manner. The moment the sluice gates of the Hirakud Dam are open, there is water within hours near Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and other downstream areas. The obstructions to the flow of water have reduced and more water is discharged into the sea than before. Silting of the river near the townships has increased.
There is no regular stream of water in a major part of the area. Unfortunately, the ruling party tried to make a monopoly of the episode and tried to show that they are the only ones concerned about the welfare and future of the State. An elementary step like an all-party meeting to jointly assert our right was not to the liking of the ruling party. leaders of the parties continued to be confined to their parties and there were no leaders of the State. At least their attitudes indicate so.
It is true that a River Water Board would be a more effective and meaningful instrumentality than the Joint Control Board. The 1956 Act provides the legal foundation for creating a River Water Board. Beyond that, an inter-State river water dispute could be raised before the appropriate forum of law, but all this requires not so much of emotion but of cold facts which would provide the foundation of our contentions. Instead of whitepapers, we have white lies.
It is time that we set our houses in order and collate the facts available so as to project the injustices caused to our State. Playing petty politics may lead to momentary success or one-upmanship but would not really contribute to help the body polity. Most of the data is available either in the records of the Government of this State or the Centre and is also in public domain in the internet and satellite-based studies. An expert team in the concerned matter and the connected laws has to prepare a suitable documentation duly authenticated so as to provide the right armoury to our fight against injustice.
But what a mess we create for ourselves! We move a privilege motion against the Minister of State for Water Resources of the Central Government. Subsequently, it emerges that what he said in the House was based on records and our allegation is based on pretended pleas. Such embarrassments are avoidable. We do not have to agitate before our BDOs or Collectors for the activities in Chhattisgarh.
Even the Assembly was not duly informed of the developments in Chhattisgarh with factual details. In trying to be overaggressive by speaking half truths, the leaders of the Government have landed themselves in a very embarrassing and awkward position of having twisted facts concealing the real state of affairs. This does not speak well of the leadership and has diverted and frustrated the concerted efforts to remedy the injustices that have been inflicted on our State contrary to its interest.
The leader of Opposition has gone ahead and held an all-party meeting. Powers flowing from knowledge and information have been weak. We have had no appropriate strategy to meet the situation, more so when the facts were not being countenanced in an appropriate manner. We have given a very shoddy and disorganised projection of ourselves.
The resources of the Mahanadi are vital to the interest of the State of Odisha. But our State Government does not inform us about what the maladies are and how it is planned to rectify them. The entire issue does not require political brinkmanship but calls for an intensive study and evaluation of the data relating to the real situation down the river. But, alas, we continue to project ourselves as a lilliput and not as a giant of a State.
In this exercise, the youth have played a very minimal role which is a disconcerting feature. It is their future which is being harmed, and intergeneration equity demands that we prompt them to participate in the cause of the State in a meaningful and purposive manner. It is their future that is at stake. They must also stoutly point out the apathy of the political parties over a decade. It must be pointed out to them that our generation has not acted in a purposive, meaningful and constructive manner but has indulged in petty fogging while fishing for smaller gains at the cost of the greater cause.
The relevance of the youth power is all the more significant in the context of those who amongst them are 18 or above and has the voting power. We should all realise that a time has come to put our shoulders and heads together and unite our minds and give a good account of ourselves in protecting the interests of our survival and growth. Sustainable growth is the crying need of the hour. The privatisation of water that has been attempted by Chhattisgarh has to be countenanced with sufficient reasoning and organised thinking so as to contain the maladies. In this endeavour, the inspiring force must be the common cause, and the movement cannot leave out any one of us. Surely, this concerns us all!
(The writer, a Senior Advocate, is a former All India Service officer, a former diplomat, a former editor, a former President of Orissa High Court Bar Association and a former Advocate General of Odisha. jayantdas@hotmail.com)