The Chhattisgarh Government would not stop the ongoing construction of barrages upstream Mahanadi even as both the Odisha and Chhattisgarh Governments agreed to formation of a joint control board (JCB) to discuss various issues relating to Mahanadi river and its tributaries between them.
The Odisha Government did not put its demand of immediate stopping of barrages in a strong manner in the meeting of the Central Water Commission (CWC) in New Delhi here attended by the Chief Secretaries of both the State Governments and the Centre, reasons best known to it.
At the meeting, the two States agreed to share information regarding the projects set up on Mahanadi in their jurisdiction.
"Chhattisgarh has agreed to constitute a joint control board to discuss issues related to Mahanadi and its tributaries between Odisha and Chhattisgarh. We are ready for constitution of a board even today itself," said Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand.
When asked whether his Government has stopped the construction work after the stiff opposition put by the Odisha Chief Minister, Dhand said nowhere the construction work was stopped.
"In case of any dispute between the two States, the board's decision will be final. In 1983, constitution of such a Board was proposed between the then Madhya Pradesh CM Arjun Singh and his Odisha counterpart Janaki Ballav Patnaik. The proposed Board will be formed on similar lines," said Dhand said.
Maintaining that his State has always abided by the inter-State river water sharing norms and has used limited Mahanadi water without hurting Odisha's interest, Dhand said Odisha and Chhattisgarh are neighbouring States with common interest and detailed information by both the States regarding the Mahanadi issue would definitely help in solving the matter.
However, Odisha Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi said he would confirm setting up of the proposed board after discussing the matter with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Union Water Resources Ministry's Additional Secretary Amarjeet Singh presided over the meeting.