The Mahanadi Banchao Jivika Banchao Aviyan, a conglomeration of people's organisations of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, has decided to launch a campaign for faster solution to the river row involving Odisha, Chhatisgarh and New Delhi.
The drive includes a post card campaign, dharana and convention in Raipur and Bhubaneswar, formation of a people's charter, submission of memorandum to President, Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India, besides a programme in New Delhi etc.
The decision was taken in a joint meeting of the forum held in Raigarh in Chhattisgarh.
At a joint press meet on May 27, it appealed Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh to release waters in Mahanadi from Kalma
A fact finding committee comprising six members from both the States including Ananta Bhai from lok Mukti Sangathan, Jharsuguda, Sisir Hui from CPI(M), Basudev Bhoi from CPI, Raghubir Pradhan from Zilla Banchao Sangharsha Samiti, Raigarh and Jogendra Majhi from Hirakud Budi Anchal Sangram Samiti visited Kalma and other barrages in Chhattisgarh to ascertain the facts of closure of the barrage gates allegedly by the Chhattisgarh Government.
After field visit and interaction with affected villages around Kalma barrage and a few villages like Sukhasoda, Kandheikela and Mahulapalli of Odisha, the team headed to Raigarh and interacted with citizen groups, mediapersons and representatives of various organisations. The finding of the team was released in a press meet at Jharsuguda on May 28 where delegates revealed that the Chhattisgarh Government has arbitrarily stopped free flowing of Mahanadi waters.
“So it is high time State Governments of Odisha and Chhattisgarh took proactive step to immediately solve the ongoing water sharing dispute,” said campaign co-convenor Ananta Bhai. He also urged the Prime Minister to immediately intervene to solve Mahanadi water dispute.
“People especially river dependent communities in both the States are suffering as Governments in both sides are serving interest of industrial houses,” alleged Raghubir Pradhan.
The campaign strongly demanded a working formula acceptable to both the warring States for solution of the river row as tribunal is a time-consuming affair.