Centre calls meeting of UP, MP CMs to resolve water issue

UP govt has informed Central Water Commission requesting that suitable directions may be issued to MP govt to release 2,000 cusecs of water from Bansagar Dam for two months

In a bid to resolve the dispute between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh over releasing water from Bansagar Dam, the Centre has convened a meeting of the chief ministers of the two states here tomorrow.

Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti has called a meeting of the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to discuss the issue of supply of water to UP from Bansagar Dam, a statement here said.

The dam is located in MP and controlled by Bansagar Control Board, which is a subordinate office of the Union Water Resources Ministry.

The meeting comes in the wake of a UP government communication sent to the Chairman of Central Water Commission requesting that suitable directions may be issued to Madhya Pradesh government to release 2,000 cusecs of water from Bansagar Dam for two months into Sone River against the due share of Uttar Pradesh.

Due to severe heat and scarcity of rains, an acute crisis of drinking water and irrigation has arisen in the districts of Sonbhadra and Mirzapur, the Uttar Pradesh government had said in its communication.

"MP Government has refused to release the desired water on the ground that since UP has not agreed to share the operation and maintenance expenses of Bansagar Dam hence they have not stored the due share of water of UP in Bansagar Dam. UP Government has refuted this claim of MP," the statement added.