Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday alleged that the Centre did not insist on the Chhattisgarh Government to halt barrage work on the Mahanadi. “The Chhattisgarh Government refused to stop construction works on the Mahanadi at the tripartite meeting in Delhi. Unfortunately the Centre also did not insist on Chhattisgarh to halt the works,” said Patnaik on his return from New Delhi.
“As you know, the river Mahanadi is the lifeline of Odisha. It serves 65 per cent of our population in way of drinking water, irrigation, power generation, fisheries, etc. Also, if the construction works are carried on in Chhattisgarh, it will damage the delicate environmental balance in such sanctuaries as Satkosia, Bhitarkanika and the Chilika lake,” he said.