Taking on the ruling BJP Government in the State and the Congress party over the issue of Mahanadi river water distribution between Chhattisgarh and Odisha States, former Chief Minister and Chhattisgarh Janta Congress (Jogi) Chief Ajit Jogi here on Monday said that both national parties were playing with the interests of Chhattisgarh.
He criticised senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Jairam Ramesh, for objecting on the construction of barrages or dam over Mahanadi River in Chhattisgarh.
Notably, Ramesh during his Odisha visit had expressed the aforementioned views and had even suggested Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to take up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Jogi, while addressing a press conference at his residence, said that through Jairam Ramesh, the Indian National Congress has indirectly warned Chhattisgarh against the construction of any check-dam or barrage over Mahanadi river.
He charged that the Congress party was only ‘playing politics’ over issue of Mahanadi river.
“The Chhattisgarh tour of Congress leader proposed by Jairam Ramesh for assessing the impact on Odisha is nothing but a political stunt and CJC(J) will vehemently oppose any such visit,” Jogi told reporters.
Citing the recent decision of Central Water Commission (CWC) in favour of Chhattisgarh and green signalling of the construction of barrages on Mahanadi river, Jogi said that Ramesh’s suggestion of approaching the Prime Minister exposes the anti-Chhattisgarh intentions of the Indian National Congress.
Making mention about Hirakud and Rihand dams, he opined that Chhattisgarh had never received any major benefit from these dams and the under construction Kanher Dam will also submerge a big part of this State.
According to Jogi, the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh will affect more than 40,000 people including some endangered tribes in Chhattisgarh.
Jogi said that his party will fight for the cause of Chhattisgarh and will even approach the court if required.