The Agami Odisha, a platform of likeminded and socially concerned people of the State, has asked a few questions over the
Mahanadi dispute to Chhatisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh who will visit Odisha on February 9 and 10 to campaign for the BJP candidates in the PRI poll in western part of the State.
First of all the forum has sought an answer from Singh if Mahanadi is the exclusive property of Chhatisgarh and Odisha has nothing to do with whatever the neighbouring State does to the river. “The way your Government is planning to utilise the water of the river Mahanadi portrays as if the river only belongs to Chhatishgarh and compels us to ask you this question. We hope you will reply to it in the public,” it said.
Its second question is, should the river’s water be exploited blindly for the present requirement of economic development or it, being a source of life, should be conserved and preserved for the generations to come.
It lamented that the Chhatisgarh Government has ignored the environmental aspect of the dams constructed by it over the Mahanadi.
The third question is if Raman’s Government is prioritizing on the use of water for drinking and domestic purposes which is demanded by the existing laws and water policies. “Your Government has been prioritizing to quench the thirst of the industries and for that purpose many projects, barrages, dams are built on Mahanadi and its tributaries. Will you please clearly spell out your viewsIJ” it said.
The fourth question is over free flow of the Mahanadi river and the statement of a Chhatisgarh Minister that 85 per cent of the river water goes waste by draining into the sea. “The laws of the nature and the river are that the river is to flow to the sea. Surprisingly, one of your Cabinet Ministers argues that 85 per cent of the water of the
Mahanadi is being wasted as it flows to the sea. In our view, it is a ridiculous argument and detrimental to cause of environment and eco-system of a river. Will you please ask your Minister to refrain from giving such absurd statementsIJ” it asked.
The fifth question the forum also wanted an answer for from Singh, who is a star campaigner for the BJP, is: “When we look at the approval and environment clearance of various projects from different legal authorities like EIAA, SIEAA, MoEF etc, we are made to believe that foul and fraudulent methods are applied. Category “A” projects are shown as Category “B” and environment clearance has been obtained. We expect you to show the courage to admit that these are unintentional mistakes on the part of your Government and very soon you will ratify the same.”
And last but not the least, it urged the Chhatisgarh CM to put a halt to the project constructions from his side and pave way for amiable solution of the dispute between the two States.