Cuttack: Member of Mahanadi Bachao Andolan (MBA) staged a satyagraha at Gadagadia Ghat Saturday, protesting the ongoing visit of the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal to Odisha and demanding an interim order to safeguard the state’s water requirements.
The protest, led by MBA convener Sudarshan Das, witnessed participation of social activists, farmers, artists, political leaders and local residents. Former MLA Mohammed Moquim also joined the demonstration and urged that the movement be intensified from the grassroots to the national capital to draw the attention of the Centre to the dispute, which he termed a matter of survival for Odisha.
Barabati–Cuttack MLA Sofi a Firdous, who is also a member of the government-formed committee for an amicable settlement of the dispute, said she had not been informed about the Tribunal’s visit. She reiterated that ensuring adequate water flow in the Mahanadi — considered the lifeline of Odisha — would be raised in the Assembly and urged people to strengthen democratic protests. The outfit alleged that the Tribunal’s visit from February 26 to March 2 included stops at several tourist destinations apart from the Hirakud Dam, and questioned the need for luxury accommodation despite the availability of government guest houses.
The MBA demanded transparency in public expenditure, claiming that nearly `5 crore had been spent during the Tribunal’s previous visit in 2023. The organisation demanded an interim order directing Chhattisgarh to release adequate water to the Hirakud reservoir and downstream areas during the non-monsoon season to safeguard Odisha’s irrigation and drinking water needs. It also urged authorities to prevent any obstruction of the river flow near the Kalma Barrage.
Artist Rabi Rath voiced concern over the condition of the Mahanadi and proposed awareness drives through paintings and performances, adding that a similar programme would soon be organised in Bhubaneswar. MBA spokesperson Prasanna Bishoi said satyagrahas and awareness campaigns would be held across Odisha, including in Bhubaneswar, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Paradip, Banki and Konark, in the coming days.
Similar protests were reported from Jharsuguda under farmer leaders Biranchi Sahu and Gopinath Majhi, Athmallik under Congress leader Subash Pradhan, Sonepur and other districts.