Bhubaneswar: For the first time since the inception of Mahanadi water row between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has slammed the neighbouring state. He said it was ‘wrong’ on the part of Chief Minister Raman Singh to assert that nobody can stop Chhattisgarh from utilising Mahanadi water’.
“Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh’s remark on the Mahanadi issue is condemnable. This is not new. The stand of state unit of BJP is very clear on this issue. No question arises on any kind compromise against the interest of Odisha. Chhattisgarh is wrong on the Mahanadi issue,” Pradhan told reporters here.
The minister however, did not let go of the chance to take a pot shot at the BJD government. “Why no efforts have been made by state government to store at least one bucket of Mahanadi water in the lower catchment areas in Odisha,” he asked. “Why proper measures haven’t been taken to prevent 52 per cent of the Mahanadi water to flow into the sea,” added Pradhan.
Reacting to Pradhan’s comment, BJD spokesperson PK Deb said “Finally, Pradhan has accepted that the Chhattisgarh government is wrong. Still, the party’s (BJP) stand on the issue is not clear. Their spokesperson Pitambar Acharya has already supported Singh,” Deb said.
Replying to Pradhan’s allegation on proper utilisation of Mahanadi water, Deb said “If the water is flowing into the sea, it does not mean that Chhattisgarh will take advantage of the situation and take all the water.”
Meanwhile, working president of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Chiranjib Biswal said, “There is no similarity in the statements made by different leaders of the BJP. The Prime Minister is saying something while Raman Singh is coming out with a different version. Here Pradhan has a different opinion regarding the Mahanadi dispute. There should be some clarity.”
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