Bhubaneswar: A day after Centre’s fresh invitation for a talk to resolve Mahanadi issue, ruling BJD and Congress slammed the Modi government for its move to protect Chhattissgarh government.
In a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari said, “With a view to making another sincere effort to resolve the dispute in the spirit of cooperative federalism, I propose to discuss the issue with you and CM, Chhattisgarh at your earliest convenience. I request you to communicate a date convenient to you for the discussion so that I am able to fix the meeting at the earliest in consultation with CM, Chhattisgarh.”
Government chief whip and BJD spokesperson Amar Prasad Satpathy criticised the Centre and said, “All the exercises by the Centre are aimed at delaying the issue. The CM has reiterated in his written demand that the contentious construction work should be stopped first.”
The Centre is making all these efforts only to protect the interest of Chhattisgarh and delay in setting up of tribunal, he said.
Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra attacked both state and Centre for failing to protect Orissa’s interests on the Mahanadi river water dispute.
“The Centre has announced in the Parliament that dialogue between Orissa and Chhattisgarh has failed, it implies there is no chance of further discussion as it would yield nothing,” the Congress leader said. He said that as per provisions of law, the Centre is bound to form a tribunal to resolve the dispute.
However, state BJP spokesperson Pitambar Acharya said, “The Union Minister has already assured that the interest of Orissa in the issue will be safeguarded. BJD is playing politics over the issue.”
PNN
