**New Delhi/Bhubaneswar**: While Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MPs staged walkouts in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha protesting the dam construction in the upper catchments of Mahanadi River by Chhattishgarh, Chief Minister of the neighbouring State Raman Singh said his government can use Mahanadi water whenever they need as they have equal rights over it.
Singh said his state has been utilising legitimate share of water without affecting interests of Odisha.
Criticising the Chhattisgarh government for launching construction activities without taking into account the interests of the people of Odisha, BJD floor leader Bhartruhari Mahtab said the central government should intervene in the matter.
Mahtab and his party colleagues including Tathagatha Sathpathy and Kalikesh Singh Deo said they wanted to know if Odisha was being discriminated against because it chose a “different socio-political path” and elects a regional party government.
Countering the allegations of the BJD MPs, BJP MP from Rajnandgaon, Abhisek Singh said he has no information that the Odisha government has taken any steps for establishment of a joint control board since 1983.
“Going by the issues that the Odisha government has raised and the communication it has had with the Chhattisgarh government so far, I don’t think the former has taken any serious steps at the political level,” Singh pointed out.
During the discussion in Parliament on Tuesday, Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said Odisha is very close to her heart and steps will be taken to safeguard the interest of Odia people.
Bharti also maintained that water should not be made a reason for a “fight”, rather it should be used as a unifying factor.
“Odisha is a beloved state of ours. We cannot do anything or allow anything to happen that will put the state into any crisis,” Bharti told the Lok Sabha while replying to a motion moved by agitated members of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
“Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a slogan of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ (A government with all and for development of all). And thus we will try to take all the states along,” Bharti maintained.
Minister of State for Water Resources Sanjeev Kumar Balyan said the central government came into the picture only about one and a half months ago after Odisha wrote formally seeking the union government’s intervention.
“We proposed a tripartite meeting in June as a mediator. While Chhattisgarh government agreed to come, the Odisha government sought more time. Now the meeting is slated on July 29. Hence all issues can be brought there,” Balyan said.
BJD leaders said there was “an agreement” in 1983 between the then governments of Madhya Pradesh and Odisha on how the river water is to be shared if new embankments or new reservoirs are to be constructed.
Meanwhile, State unit of BJP on Tuesday said the necessary steps would be taken no compromises will be made to protect the interest of Odia people.
“It’s really unfortunate that Chhattisgarh had started Arpa project without informing Odisha but it’s sad that the State Government raised the issue just one and half months back. It shows the irresponsible attitude of the State Government,” said State BJP President Basant Panda.
The Central Water Commission (CWC) had called a meeting in the month of June but Odisha Government asked one month time, the reason behind is yet to be known, Panda explained.