No compromise with Odisha's interests : Pradhan

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today said due to lack of action by Odisha government the situation has arised when Chhattishgarh is constructing major structures in the upstream of river Mahanadi river.
He said there should be no compromise in Odisha's interest.
Most political parties in Odisha are strongly opposed to Chhattishgarh's bid to construct major structures in the upstream of Mahanadi river.
"Due to lack of action on the part of Odisha government the present situation has arised.
"The agreement on Mahanadi river water sharing between Odisha and undivided Madhya Pradesh was signed in 1983 and Central Water Commission was the mediator. But Odisha government did not constitute the regulatory board as the agreement," Pradhan said in a statement.

Had that Board been constituted this situation would not have come, he added.

Pradhan suggested that Odisha, which has strongly opposed Chhattishgarh constructing structures across river Mahanadi, involve Central Water Commission to redress its grievances.
Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra today urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to convene an all-party meeting to discuss on the issue.
"I will request you to call an all party meeting to discuss about the situation arising out of the unilateral construction by Chhattishgarh government for taking appopriate steps to protect interest of the state," Mishra, who belongs to Congress, wrote to Patnaik.
"If you are not inclined to call the meeting, I wish to call for an all party meeting for which I seek your cooperation," he said, adding all parties are opposed to Chhattishgarh constructing a reservoir-based dam on Kelo river near Odisha border.

Mishra also said another major structure across Mahanadi upstream is being built within Chhattishgarh and its unilateral decision of Chhattishgarh will affect the interest of Odisha and its farmers.
CPI(M) in a statement suggested that Odisha government should go to the Supreme Court if the Centre did not give due importance to its grievances.
Party state secretary Ali Kishore Pattnaik said people in about 15 of the state's 30 districts would be affected if Chhattishgarh went ahead with the constructions on Mahanadi river.
Earlier, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed Odisha's opposition to the Chhattishgarh's "unilateral" decision to contruct structures across river Mahanadi.

Opposition BJP too said it would fight for the interest of Odisha.