Bhubaneswar: Activists of Mahanadi Bachao Aandolan (MBA) Tuesday staged a dharna here to seek attention of the Central Water Commission (CWC) with regard to safeguarding Odisha’s interest in Mahanadi water dispute.
Several activists, including women, thronged the CWC office near Acharya Vihar to press for their demands. They raised slogans, apprised the citizens of the issue and blamed the CWC, a wing of the Ministry of the Water Resources and River Development for allegedly taking side with the Chhattisgarh government on the issue.
The outfit members also submitted a memorandum to the CWC seeking its impartial attention to the river affairs. Joint Convener of MBA said, “The stir is mainly to remind the CWC of its duties. It is acting to favour the Chhattisgarh government insofar as Mahanadi water dispute is concerned. We want the central body to safeguard the interests of the people of Odisha.”
The MBA, through its memorandum, asked the CWC as to why it was silent when the Chhattisgarh government built six barrages on Mahanadi illegally without keeping the Odisha government in loop. It also apprised the CWC how the alleged closure of 67 gates of the Kalma barrage in Chhattisgarh in April this year created shortage of drinking water and water for the livelihood of the people residing downstream of the river.
The MBA also said that the recent flood-like situation in parts of the state was caused due to some of the irrational decisions taken by the Chhattisgarh government regarding Mahanadi water release and asked the CWC to ensure that the interest of Odisha is safeguarded.
