Taking strong exception to the unilateral decision of the Chhatisgarh Government to construct a series of structures on the Mahanadi and its tributaries upstream, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday urged intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the issue as it jeopardizes the interests of millions of Odisha farmers.
In a letter to Modi, Patanik brought the former’s attention to how the Chhatisgarh Government had planned to construct several structures on the Mahanadi upstream and also how this would hit the agriculturists of Odisha. He also expressed his shock over the silence of the Central Water Commission (CWC) over the issue.
Patnaik said seven pick-up weirs across river Mahanadi just upstream of the Hirakud dam such as Saradi weir and Kalama weir, seven diversion weirs across river Arpa ( a tributary of river Seonath, which again is a tributary of river Mahanadi) such as Khongasara project, Salka project and Bilaspur project have already been constructed, while Ambaguaa diversion project, Salka diversion project, lachhanpur diversion project including Arpa-Bhaisajhar Barrage project are under execution. Two new projects such as Pairy-Mahanadi Intra State link project and Tandula Reservoir Augmentation Scheme on the Mahanadi having a severe adverse impact on flow of water in Hirakud reservoir are being proposed by the Chattisgarh Government. The neighbouring State is also contemplating construction of a reservoir based dam in Kelo river adjacent to Odisha border.
Patnaik said, “This is extremely unfortunate that in a federal system, the interests of the people of Odisha have been completely neglected. We are shocked that a Central agency like the Central Water Commission has remained silent on this issue. Being a nodal agency, they are expected to be neutral and should play a pro active role in safeguarding the interests of farmers of the riparian State of Odisha. I hope that the Ministry of Environment and Forests also takes up this issue, keeping in view our interests.”
He requested Modi to advise the Chhatisgarh Government to immediately stop the unilateral construction of such major structures across Mahanadi.