On the second leg of his campaign in western Odisha on Saturday, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, who is a BJP star campaigner in the panchayat elections in Odisha, on Saturday reiterated that the Mahanadi water dispute could be resolved easily if the BJP comes to power in Odisha.
Accompanied by Union Tribal Affairs Minister and Sundargarh lok Sabha MP Jual Oram, Singh addressed public at two places in Sundargarh district.
Contrary to the claims of the Odisha Government that the water flow to Odisha has been receding and constructions of dams on the upper catchment areas would pose further adverse impact on the State’s interest, Singh claimed that 82 per cent of the Mahanadi water drains into the sea. The 82 per cent water, which is going to the sea, can fill five Hirakud reservoirs, he said.
“During my 16 years’ tenure as Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, I reckon Odisha as big brother of Chhattisgarh. But why is the Odisha Government quarreling with its own brotherIJ The Odisha Government is unnecessarily making Mahanadi an issue without addressing the main problems of Odisha,” Singh asserted.
He further said, “Chhattisgarh is marching towards progress. To get work, people of Chhattisgarh are not going outside whereas distress migration is a cause of concern in Odisha. If people of Chhattisgarh are getting jobs in Chhattisgarh, why it is not possible in Odisha,” he wondered.
“We are giving rice at Re 1 and the quality of rice is so good that palau can be made with it, but the quality of rice the Odisha Government is giving is very poor,” Singh stated.
On the contrary, BJD protesters led by Choudwar-Cuttack MlA and BJD Sundargarh poll observer Pravat Biswal opposed Singh’s visit by staging a demonstration in front of Collector’s office. The protesters were gagging their mouths with back bands.