Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Sept 15: With just a day left for the tripartite meeting at New Delhi over Mahanadi dispute, as many as 115 outfits along with three political parties met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday and provided their suggestions which include fixing of accountability on officials responsible for poor water resources management in the state.
Hundreds of people from far-flung areas of Sonepur, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Nayagarh as well as people from Angul, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur reached the Secretariat to discuss the issue with the Chief Minister for the second day.
Leaders of political parties like CPI, Samajwadi Party along with leaders of various citizens’ forums as well as employees’ associations met Patnaik at his office to discuss the issue.
Most of the parties, outfits and individuals requested CM to ask Chhattisgarh government to stop construction of the barrage and dam projects taken up ‘unilaterally’ on the Mahanadi upper catchment.
The citizens’ bodies also suggested Patnaik to seek formation of a river board as per the River Board Act or formation of a tribunal for resolving the dispute during the meeting.
Some of the workers associations and social outfits stated that accountability should be fixed on the officials and personnel responsible for poor management of water resources and malfunctioning of irrigation system.
They also suggested that Chhattisgarh must ensure release of 56,000 million cubic metre (MCM) water in Mahanadi river system annum.
Meanwhile, sources in the Chief Minister’s Office said individuals and organisations may come up with their suggestions till 1pm Friday.
About 130 groups including five political parties have so far given their suggestions to the CM.
Sources said all the suggestions will be analysed by senior officials of agriculture and water resources department along with those of the CMO prior to the meeting. Also see page 5