Addressing the media here on the Mahanadi barrage dispute, Brajrajnagar BJP MlA Radharani Panda said the Biju Janta Dal (BJD) is merely creating a public spectacle in the guise of the ‘Save Mahanadi Campaign’ and not actually pursuing the legal and Constitutional options available to address the real issue.
She alleged that the State Government and BJD leaders are misleading the public for their political ends. and the Government has not even taken its plea to the Central Water Commission.
Panda reminded the Press that when she had earlier raised a question in the State Assembly about the Chhattisgarh Government’s barrage projects, the Chief Minister along with other Ministers replied that these projects would not cause any loss to Odisha.
Panda added that on October 2, 2011, the then Rajya Sabha member and current Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) Chairman Kishore Mohanty of the BJD in a seminar on the Mahanadi dispute had said he had written to the Chief Minister expressing his concern in the matter. But now, he is stating that he was not aware of these projects.
Panda said it is clear that the State Government was well aware of the Chhattisgarh Government’s plans and is now being completely dishonest by feigning ignorance about these plans.
Referring to the demonstrations held by BJD leaders at district Collectorates, Panda remarked that this is political dramatics at best and that the BJD is well aware that the district Collectorates don’t have any jurisdiction to act on the matter.
She said that if the BJD was even a bit serious about actually understanding the scope of the issue and if it can cause any potential harm to the people of Odisha then it should immediately call for an all-party meeting and have a serious dialogue on the issue so that an appropriate resolution could be achieved.
BJP leaders Sunil Panda, Anil Nayak, Sushil Purohit and Raghunandan Panda were also present at the Press meet.