Mahanadi row: BJD workers to stop Chhattisgarh-bound goods

Intensifying its stir against Chhattisgarh's construction of projects on the upstream of Mahanadi river, Odisha's ruling BJD today said its workers would stop goods trains going to the neighbouring state for half-an-hour on Wednesday.
"We will stop all goods trains to Chhattisgarh for half an hour on August 3. We want to show that we can also follow the route Chhattisgarh government has adopted," BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said here.
The protest would continue till the Chhattisgarh government stops all construction works being carried out "illegally", he said.
On Chhattisgarh's proposal of setting up a Joint Control Board (JCB) to resolve the Mahanadi issue, Deb said they should first stop work.

"On moral grounds, the Chhattisgarh government must stop construction work on all ongoing projects so that we can initiate talks for formation of the JCB," the BJD leader said and alleged the neighbouring state has provided false information to the Centre on the projects to obtain approval.
BJD general secretary and Odisha industries minister Debi Prasad Mishra said as a co-basin state, Odisha has the absolute right to be consulted before the Central Water Commission (CWC) clears any project.

"Chhattisgarh has not taken any consent from Odisha government before sending the proposal to Centre. We were also not invited to the meeting convened by CWC while clearing certain projects. We were kept in absolute dark," he said.

Supporting the earlier statement of Chief Secretary A P Padhi, Mishra said Chhattisgarh has not sent any letter to Odisha on the Kelo project.
BJD supporters would also stage a relay hunger strike in front of the CWC office here protesting the central body not consulting Odisha before clearing projects for Chhattisgarh, he said.
Meanwhile, opposition Congress and BJP criticised the ruling party for deciding against attending the all-party meeting convened by Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra on Wednesday.