BJD puts human chain programme on hold

The ruling BJD today announced to put on hold its proposed 400 km long human chain protesting neighbouring Chhattishgarh government's construction of projects on the upstream of river Mahanadi.
"As the state government has moved the Supreme Court seeking halt of illegal construction of projects in river Mahanadi, we have decided to put on hold the human chain programme," BJD spokesman and MLA Sashibusan Behera said.
A similar programme could be organised in a complete non-violent manner at a later stage, Behera said adding, a mass movement might be carried out in future as the Mahanadi issue was associated with people and progress of Odisha.

The BJD in October had announced it would organise a grand human chain from Hirakud to Paradip to mount pressure on the Centre against Chhattisgarh's construction of projects on the upstream of river Mahanadi.
The party had also decided to launch a signature campaign across the state and collect signatures from 87 lakh families to be affected due to construction in river Mahanadi.
Meanwhile, the state government has filed an original suit in the Supreme Court seeking injunction on Chhattishgarh continuing with construction of projects on the upstream of river Mahanadi, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik recently informed the state Assembly.

Patnaik said the original suit was filed in the apex court under Article 131 of the Constitution on December 2.