Bhubaneswar: To corner the Modi government for its stand on Mahanadi water dispute between Orissa and Chhattissgarh, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to raise this issue in the floor of Parliament during the winter session that starts Friday.
This was decided during the meeting of BJD parliamentary party held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik Thursday at Naveen Niwas.
All the 28 MPs of the party, including 20 Lok Sabha members and eight Rajya Sabha members, were present at the meeting.
Though the ruling party has decided to raise several issues in the Parliament including Mahanadi water dispute, Polavaram project by Andhra Pradesh government and hike in minimum support price (MSP) of paddy, the main focus will be on the Mahanadi issue.
“Our prime agenda will be to oppose the Centre’s partiality towards Chhattissgarh in the Mahanadi issue. The party will lodge a protest against the Centre’s apathy. Though as per the law, the Centre is bound to form a tribunal, it is showing undue favours to Chhattisgarh by not constituting a tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi dispute,” BJD parliamentary party spokesperson Kalikesh Singh Deo told reporters after the meeting.
“The state government wants to provide bonus to farmers, but the Centre does not allow us to do so. However, Chhattisgarh government has been allowed to provide bonus to farmers on and above the MSP. We will raise the issue in the Parliament,” the BJD leader said.
Besides, issues related to Polavaram project and prolong delay in implementation of railway projects in the state and demand for hike in MSP for paddy will be raised by the party, said BJD Rajya Sabha MP Pratap Deb.
Taking a step further on Mahanadi water dispute, the party has also moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, said BJD parliamentary party leader in Lok Sabha, Bhatruhari Mahtab. The party is to seek support from like-minded party(s) for acceptance of the motion by Speaker as BJD doesn’t have required number of members in the House, he said.
The BJD has 20 members in the Lok Sabha, while consent of at least 50 members is required for acceptance of the adjournment motion.
Moreover, delay in construction of second Brahmani bridge and non-revision of royalty of coal for coal bearing states will also be raised by the BJD during the winter session. The winter session of Parliament begins Friday and will continue till January 5, 2018.
PNN
