The BJP on Friday said it would fight to ensure free flow of water in the Mahanadi during summer in the interest of the people of Odisha.
“Since the Mahanadi water dispute came to the fore, the Odisha BJP has been stating that it would ensure free flow of water during summer as the Mahanadi water is essential for economic development of farmers and the State in general. The BJP is still committed to its standpoint,” said party vice-president Sameer Mohanty in a statement.
He said embankments and other projects would be constructed upstream Mahanadi as per laws of the country and no State is above the country’s law.
He, however, alleged that the Naveen Patnaik Government has been playing a drama to cover up its own inefficiencies during the last 17 years.
“letters had been exchanged at the administrative level between two States over the construction of barrages in Chhattisgarh. The Odisha Government had then informed the State Assembly that Odisha would not be affected due to those constructions. While Chhattisgarh has undertaken construction since the UPA Government was in power at the Centre, why the Naveen Government was silent,” wanted to know Mohanty.
He said had barrages been constructed in the downstream of Mahanadi by the Naveen Patnaik Government during the last 17 years, water could have conserved during rainy seasons and provided to farmers.