BJD attacks govt over Mahanadi water dispute

Bhubaneswar: BJD on Friday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Odisha govt, accusing it of policy confusion, inaction and political posturing over the long-pending Mahanadi water dispute with neighbouring Chhattisgarh.Addressing a press conference here, senior BJD brass Prasanna Acharya, Debi Prasad Mishra and Niranjan Pujari alleged that while Odisha faced acute water stress, Chhattisgarh constructed multiple check dams and barrages over the last 19 months and was “illegally stopping river water and selling it to industries”.Mishra said the BJP govt failed to take a clear stand on resolving the dispute, confusing it between the options of mutual discussion and approaching the tribunal.

“First, the govt spoke about mutual talks, but no progress was made. Later, it said the tribunal route would be taken, but even that failed as the govt did not write in time to extend the tribunal’s tenure, drawing reprimand from the tribunal,” he alleged.Acharya said that instead of simplifying the issue, the BJP govt complicated it further since coming to power. “In the last 19 months alone, several new check dams and barrages came up in Chhattisgarh, including on tributaries.

The govt here is only issuing statements while the situation on the ground worsens,” he said.Responding to the allegations, BJP spokesperson Sujit Kumar Das rejected the BJD’s charges, calling them “politically motivated and misleading”. He said the previous BJD govt failed to secure a permanent solution to the Mahanadi dispute during its long tenure and was now attempting to deflect responsibility.“The present govt is pursuing all constitutional and legal options to protect Odisha’s interests. Unlike the previous regime, we are working in coordination with the Centre and engaging all stakeholders,” the BJP leader said, adding that discussions and procedural steps were underway and could not be reduced to “headline-driven politics”.