The BJD on Saturday observed a four-hour Hartal from 6 am to 10 am in Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Bargarh and Subarnaur districts in protest against the stopping of water flow in the Mahanadi in upstream areas by the Chhattisgarh Government.
Shops were closed and vehicular movements were stopped during the four-hour strike.
The party demanded that the Kalma barrage gates be opened soon as water flow has reduced in the Mahanadi downstream in Odisha.
The BJD resorted to the move after Chief Minister’s requests to his Chhattisgarh counterpart Raman Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had no response, said BJD leaders.
However, the BJP termed the Hartal as the BJD’s own agenda and said the BJP is quite aware of the situation and taking attempts to ensure free flow of water in the river during non-monsoon time in the better interests of people of Odisha.
“The BJD is on its own agenda. We are making all efforts to ensure free flow of water in the Mahanadi during the non-monsoon period. I have written to the Union Water Resources Minister in this regard. There will be no compromise on the issue as Odisha people’s interest is involved,” said Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
In a related development, the Negotiation Committee constituted by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation to resolve the Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh has been dissolved.
The committee, which said that it could not arrive at any amicable settlement on the issue as both the States are not providing facts on the Mahanadi, passed the ball to the court of the Ministry of Water Resources suggesting that the latter take steps to resolve the issue.