Sambalpur: More than 5,000 farmers of Orissa and Chhattisgarh Friday vowed to stage a decisive war against ‘mindless industrialisation’ and construction of barrages in the upper catchment area of Mahanadi by the Chhattisgarh government.
They would launch a ‘surgical strike’ against industrial units if farmers are deprived of Mahanadi water, agitators of 10 western Orissa districts along with the thousands from the neighbouring state warned at a ‘Sankalp Samavesh’ held at Jamadarpali near Hirakud dam.
The farmers demanded the governments of both the states should stop leaning towards industries to protect the interest of the farming community.
Both the governments should publish a white paper over the Mahanadi water issue, the farmer leaders said.
Besides, the governments should clearly inform about the volume of water they want to offer to industrial units of both states in the white paper, they said.
Their other demands included – scrapping of all illegal under-construction dam projects in Chhattisgarh, common water utilisation policy by both the governments laying emphasis on irrigation, safe drinking water, ensuring natural flow of the river and scrapping of the proposed Mahanadi-Godavari river-linking project by the Centre and the state.
The Orissa government, citing the reason of water scarcity in Mahanadi and Hirakud dam, should scrap all agreements signed with the industries over the supply of water, the farmer leaders demanded.
Farmer leaders of Chhattisgarh demanded their government should channelise water for irrigation from the projects constructed with industry funds and that the government stay away from major dam projects like Sindol and Manibhadra.
They alleged the water of Mahanadi is no more suitable for drinking purpose due to mindless industrialisation and therefore industrial units should stop releasing toxic waste into the river.
The agitating farmers sought stringent action against industries which are responsible for water contamination. They also sought closure of NTPC in Sundargarh, Sahara Power Plant in Titilagarh and Visakha Power Plant in Sambalpur.
They would take the battle to every nook and corner of both the states if Mahanadi water is supplied to industrial units, the farmers warned.
Ashok Pradhan, convener of Paschima Orissa Krushak Sangathan Samanwyay Samiti , farmers’ leaders Lingaraj Pradhan, Prafulla Samatray and Saroj Mohanty were present from Orissa while the neighbouring state was represented by Bishnusevak Gupta, Parivesh Mishra and others. PNN
