Senior BJP leader and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday severely criticised Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for rejecting the Centre’s Negotiation Committee to address the Mahanadi water dispute with Chhattisgarh and said the CM is doing all this due to his vested political interest.
On Saturday, Patnaik in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed his concern over the formation of the committee and, instead, insisted on formation of a tribunal saying it is the only means to solve the dispute.
Pradhan, however, stated that the Patnaik Government is causing massive damage to the State for the sake of party politics. He defended the Negotiation Committee, saying its formation is only a prerequisite to constitution of a tribunal as per Section 4 of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act 1956.
“During the formation of the Vansadhara tribunal between 2006 and 2009, the same procedure was followed as of the Mahanadi now. It is pertinent to constitute a Negotiation Committee before going in for a tribunal,” said the Union Minister.
Terming the State Government’s opposition to the inclusion of three other States, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand in the Negotiation Committee as ridiculous, Pradhan said, “In its petition to the Centre for a tribunal, the Odisha Government has made these three States parties. Now, the Chief Minister is indulging in political rhetoric.”
“Initially, the CM had agreed to the decision taken during the CM-level meeting led by Union Water Resources Minister. Surprisingly, he changed his version on the advice of a “subordinate employee’ at the Third Floor (CM’s Office). The meeting was videographed, and, if necessary, the video will be publicised. Similarly, the Chief Secretary has changed his decision after talking to somebody over phone even if he had agreed upon some issues at the Chief Secretary-level meeting in New Delhi,” rued Pradhan.
Questioning the intention of Patnaik, the Union Minister said, “The Centre had convened meetings of Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries and tried two times to resolve the water dispute issue, but every time both the Odisha Chief Minister and Chief Secretary have changed their opinions after the meetings as the Odisha CM is in two minds.”
lambasting Patnaik, Pradhan questioned the former as to why he did not talk to the Prime Minister over the issue though he has visited New Delhi ten times in last six months.
“You (Patnaik) have visited New Delhi ten times in last six months to meet the PM. But you never raised the Mahanadi issue with him. It clearly
shows your commitment!” ridiculed Pradhan.