Press Trust of india
Bangalore, August 27: Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik does not want to create a bitter “India-Pakistan type conflict” between the state and Chhattisgarh over the Mahanadi river water dispute, his industries minister Debi Prasad Mishra said here today.
Patnaik was ready to discuss the issue with his Chhattisgarh counterpart during a meeting convened by Union Water resources Minister Uma Bharati in New Delhi, but not before Orissa has all information on the projects taken up by Chhattisgarh to make the talks fruitful, Mishra added.
“Naveen Babu is firm in fighting for the state, but he does not want to create India-Pakistan type dispute between Orissa and Chhattisgarh over the Mahanadi river water dispute,” he said.
“We must have all information on the projects taken up by Chhattisgarh before both Chief Ministers — Patnaik and Raman Singh — meet for discussion in Uma Bharti’s presence in Delhi. If we do not get these details, how can we know under what are the contents and what they intend to do,” Mishra added.
Mishra is a part of state panel overseeing matters concerning Mahanadi river water dispute. Orissa has been raising its voice against Chhattisgarh government’s plans to build 13 barrages across the Mahanadi.
The neighbouring state also has been constructing seven pick up weirs (small dams) across the river.
Patnaik has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention as he fears such constructions would adversely affect the farmers of Orissa. Asked about the Congress blaming the BJD government, Mishra blamed the Congress’ “inaction” as they were at the helm of affairs longer than any other party in the state.
“BJP was our partner from 2000 to 2009. The Congress has ruled the state more than us. My question is why they did not implement the constitutional provisions under the 1983 agreement between the then chief minister of erstwhile undivided state Madhya Pradesh Arjun Singh and Orissa’s GB Patnaik in April, 1983,” he said. He also rejected the charge that it was a ploy by the BJD government to rake up the issue with an eye on panchayat elections.