Odisha CM's charges on Mahanadi water false & baseless: Min

Chhattisgarh minister Brijmohan Agrawal today said the allegation made by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik that Chhattisgarh has blocked Mahanadi water flow at Kalma barrage was "false and baseless".
Agrawal saidChhattisgarh has been utilising legitimate share of water without affecting the interests of the neighbouring state.
"The allegation levelled by Odisha chief minister that Chhattisgarh has blocked Mahanadi water flow at Kalma barrage is completely false and baseless," Chhattisgarh Water Resources Minister said in a statement here this evening.
The minister's statement came in the wake of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik's letter to his Chhattisgarh counterpart Raman Singh urging himto ensure free flow of water down Stream of Mahanadi River by opening the gates of Kalma barrage.

In the letter, Patnaik had claimed that his government has report that Chhattisgarh had closed the gates of Kalma barrage which was one of the six barrages unilaterally taken up by Chhattisgarh government across the inter-state river Mahanadi without any reference or regard to the downstream interests of Odisha and its inhabitants.
Agrawal further said, "The fact is that the level of water in Kalma barrage is unchanged since the last six months and no extra water has been collected there."

"One gate has been left open in the barrage for exit of spare water, through which downstream water flow is continuous from the barrage. Hence there is no shortage of water," the release quoted Agrawal as saying.

"Generally, there is no regular flow of water in RiverMahanadiduring non-monsoon periods. Hence, issuing such controversial statement (by Odisha CM) is not appropriate," he added.
The Central Water Commission has established Gauge Site in Basantpur, which has recorded flow of 262 cusec water on June 2, 2017, whereas the flow of water downstream of Kalma barrage is recorded 454 cusec which is more.
This makes aptly clear that there is no impediment in the water flow to Odisha state from Kalma Barrage, Agrawal said.
He added that the statement made by Odisha CM was completely "false, misleading, baseless and factually incorrect".

"Chhattisgarh government is using the Mahanadi water as per the laid norms for the interest of state and its people. The state government is committed towards protecting the interest of Chhattisgarh," he maintained.