Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday requested his Chhattisgarh counterpart Raman Singh to ensure that the Kalma barrage gates are opened soon so that the Mahanadi gets free flow of water in its downstream in Odisha.
In a letter to Singh, Patnaik said gates of the Kalma barrage, which is one of the six barrages unilaterally undertaken by Chhattisgarh across the inter-State river Mahanadi without any reference or regard to the downstream interests of Odisha and its inhabitants, were closed unilaterally.
"The reports available with my Government definitely convey that your Government has gone ahead and closed the gates of the Kalma barrage stopping the free flow of water. This unilateral decision to stop the flows has caused severe distress situation in the downstream areas in my State, inter alia, affecting the drinking water needs," Patnaik said, adding that the people of Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Bargarh and many other districts have been affected.
Maintaining that there is widespread unrest due to unilateral action of the Chhattisgarh Government in closing the gates and stopping the free flow of water in Mahanadi river, Patnaik said this unrest may go out of hand, if free flows downstream of Kalma barrage in Mahanadi river are not restored immediately.
"I emphatically state that this unilateral action of your Government in closing the gates of the Kalma barrage and stopping free' flow of water is wholly contrary to the inter-State riparian rights as per the 1945 understanding (under the Chairmanship of Dr BR Ambedkar) when the Hirakud Dam was planned," said Patnaik.
Patnaik too mentioned that when the matter is pending before the Supreme Court, the Chhattisgarh Government is expected to maintain status quo regarding free flow in Mahanadi river at Kalma barrage.