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A tripartite meeting involving the Central Water Resources Ministry and the Governments of Odisha and Chhattisgarh on Saturday failed to find a solution with both the sparring states refusing to budge from their avowed stand of sharing Mahanadi river waters.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reiterated his demand for stopping construction work on barrages by Chhattisgarh at the meeting. The work on barrages, Patnaik argued, was hurting the interest of Odisha.
In a temporary relief to Odisha, Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti called for suspension of barrage related work by Chhattisgarh for a week. Both the co-basin states have been asked to submit report on the status of sharing of Mahanadi river waters.
The Union minister, however, refuted Odisha’s claim of a master plan by Chhattisgarh on Mahanadi that jeopardised availability of water for the former.
“In my knowledge, there is no such master plan prepared by the Chhattisgarh government over Mahanadi river. Even, the Central Water Commission (CWC) has denied receipt of any such report’’, Bharti said.
Odisha Chief Minister said that he strongly protested Chhattisgarh’s move to build barrages.
"We pointed out that 65% of Odisha’s population is dependent on the Mahanadi. The river is the lifeline of the people and it touches the lives of people in 16 districts. Construction of barrages by Chhattisgarh would affect water flow to Odisha and also impact wildlife sanctuaries at Bhitarkanika and Satkosia as well as the Chilika lake. We have demanded an end to the barrage work," said Patnaik.
"The CWC should exercise its statutory obligation for protecting the rights of Odisha and enforce stoppage of construction activities in upper catchment of Mahanadi and tributaries. After all construction activities for the ongoing projects are stopped, the Centre may appoint an independent fact finding committee with representation from both the states to collect all the connected data pertaining to Mahanadi waters, its various forms of utilisation and irrigation practices as well as projects," he said.
With the tripartite meet failing, Patnaik has called a special meeting of his Cabinet on Sunday to decide on the future course of action.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said, Odisha’s concerns were misplaced.
"Chhattisgarh is barely using 15% of the water from Mahanadi river. Besides, the water flowing out of our state to Odisha has the potential to fill up to five Hirakud dams," Singh said.
Odisha has voiced strong protest to Chhattisgarh's master plan proposing to utilise 88% of the Mahanadi water in the upper catchment area. The state government also alleged that neighbouring Chhattisgarh went ahead with the barrage projects without consulting Odisha.
