Amid attacks from opposition parties, the State Government on Monday rushed to clarify that neither was it informed by the Central Water Commission (CWC) about the Kelo project nor did it receive any letter from the Chhattisgarh Government to this effect as claimed by opposition parties and the neighbouring State.
“We want to clarify that Odisha Government has not received any letter from the Chhattisgarh Government contrary to media reports, which showed two letters were received from the Chief Engineer and the Chhattisgarh Water Resources Secretary in July and September 2008,” claimed Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi at a Press conference at the State Secretariat here.
Slamming the CWC Padhi said, “On January 20, 2009 the Kelo project on Mahanadi was cleared by the CWC and Odisha was not apprised. Such back door clearance is unjust and as a co-basin State, Odisha should have been invited to the meeting before clearance.”
He further stated that the Government would move an appropriate forum or court of law if water level in the non-monsoon period decreases.
"During the non-monsoon period if the water level that we want to maintain will be less, Odisha will be adversely affected and we will not tolerate that. After getting detailed information from Chhattisgarh, we will certainly approach the appropriate forum to get the projects stopped or justice."
The Chief Secretary also claimed that Chhattisgarh's Kelo Project was approved by the Central Water Commission (CWC) on January 20, 2009 and Odisha was not apprised.
On the issue of formation of a joint control board (JCB) Padhi said the State Government has not yet taken any decision on the formation of a JCB as suggested by the Centre at the July 29 meeting held in New Delhi.
Water Resources Secretary Pradip Jena, who was present at the Press briefing, said, though the Chhattisgrah Government is coming up with seven projects it has only shared about one with the Odisha Government.
"Out of seven projects in Arpa of Chhattisgarh, we have received the detailed project report (DPR) of one project only on April 18 this year. We have also intimated them our comments. Neither we have the DPRs of three completed projects nor the three proposed projects in Chhattisgarh. It is really impossible to assess the combined impact of the projects without information," said Jena.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Water Resources Minister said they sent the receipt of the letter to Odisha Government.
On the other hand, lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Monday sought a reply from Water Resources MoS Sanjeev Balyan seeking his response over the privilege motion brought by the BJD over the Mahanadi dispute.
On Monday too, BJD MP Prabhas Singh too submitted a priviligae motion against Balyan on the issue.