Bhupesh Baghel, the chief minister of Chhattisgarh, said that his state should be granted permission to build a dam across the Mahanadi River in Surguja and barrages in other locations, which created a dispute with the ruling BJD, which asserts that Odisha has the greatest claim to the river’s water.
The Mahanadi River Water Disputes Tribunal’s three-member team, chaired by Judge AM Khanwilkar of the Supreme Court, began the first phase of the field survey in the neighbouring state on the same day as Baghel’s speech. The panel’s initial field investigation will come to a close on April 22.
Prafulla Samal, a former minister and prominent BJD leader, responded to Baghel’s claim by saying that the government of Odisha has never prohibited the neighbouring state from engaging in development operations.
“There is Central Water Commission, the tribunal and courts which the Chhattisgarh government could have approached to carry on the construction activities,” he added. “Odisha government is cooperative in this regard though the state has more right than any other on Mahanadi water,” the former minister said.
In the meantime, the Odisha government came under fire from Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Bisweshwar Tudu for its lack of enthusiasm in resolving the Mahanadi river water conflict. Tudu claimed that the Odisha government is trying to mislead the populace regarding the matter in light of the upcoming elections, which are taking place in less than a year. Tudu also claimed that despite his previous position as Jal Shakti minister, the Odisha government never contacted him regarding the matter.
The union minister questioned the state government’s strategy and inquired as to why barrages had not been built by it. “As the Chhattisgarh government did, small barrages do not require authorization from any body. Odisha could have done it as well, but it is not earnest in trying to fix the problem, he continued.
According to the chief minister of Chhattisgarh, the tribunal should not have been involved in this case. Due to the continued disagreement over water distribution, the state was unable to build a dam in Surguja and barrages (in other locations). Given that the entire river’s water flows into Odisha, I understand we should obtain authorization (for the development).” he continued.
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