Even as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik recently urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to allow any barrages on the Mahanadi upper catchment by the Chhattisgarh Government, the Central Water Commission (CWC) on Wednesday rejected Odisha’s objection against the barrages.
Sources said the CWC gave the green signal to the neighbouring State to continue the construction work of the projects in the Mahanadi, upstream Hirakud Dam Reservoiur maintaining that there would be no damage to Odisha if dams were constructed in the upper catchment of Mahanadi basin.
On Wednesday, BJD parliamentarians protested the unilateral move of Chhattisgarh in and outside both Houses of the Parliament.
The BJD MPs first staged a dharna near Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises shouting slogans against the barrages.
Inside the lok Sabha, the regional party members staged a walkout demanding a discussion on the issue and personal intervention of the Prime Minister.
“Barrages are being constructed by the Chhattisgarh Government without taking Odisha into confidence. Since Mahanadi is the lifeline of Odisha the Centre must ensure that Odisha people’s interest is not affected,” said BJD Parliamentary Party leader in lok Sabha Bhartruhari Mahtab.