By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, August 3, 2016 : The opposition parties in Odisha on Wednesday came together to form a joint panel in a bid to protect the interests of the state on the issue of Mahanadi water dispute.

The ruling Biju Janata Dal [BJD] stayed away from the meet and tried to divert the public attention by detaining all Chhattisgarh bound goods trains for 30 minutes at railway stations across the state. Smajwadi Party also did not attend the meeting.

The meeting was also attended civil society organisations, experts on Mahanadi river system and non-government organisations working on water management. It unanimously resolved to urge the State Government to request the Centre for constitution of a Tribunal to adjudicate the inter-state water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

“It has been decided to submit a memorandum addressed to the President of India to Governor S C Jamir on August 10. Since it is a dispute involving two States, we will seek the President’s intervention in the matter,” the leader of opposition and convenor of the meeting, Narasimha Mishra told media persons after the meeting.

Mishra further advised the government to set up a joint control board as per provisions of water sharing act of 1983 signed between Odisha and then Madhya Pradesh Government.

“We urge the State Government to write to the Union Government to move to the Supreme Court for formation of a tribunal for Mahanadi water dispute,” he added.

Few participants expressed doubts about efficacy of the bilateral agreement signed between Odisha and Madya Pradesh in 1983 in solving any issue arising Mahanadi waters and they sought the formation of a fresh Joint Water Control Board.

However, there was overwhelming support for the constitution of a tribunal.

“This is only possible if the State Government writes to the Centre for taking up the matter with the Supreme Court. Once the dispute is referred to the tribunal, it is bound to give its award within three years,” Mishra said.

In a separate resolution moved by senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra, the meeting urged the State Government to publish a white paper on the actual position of Hirakud reservoir and steps taken by the State to prevent the Chhattigarh government from creating a possible water crisis by checking the water flow in the river Mahanadi.

While opposing construction of barrages and dams on the upper stream of Mahandai, the all-party meeting condemned the action of the Chhattisgarh government.

The meeting once again urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik either call for an all-party meeting or constitute a committee for a united fight on the issue.
The committee will decide the future course of action and take steps to secure the interests of the State by saving the river Mahanadi from the monopolistic water exploitation of Chhattisgarh government.

Though 14 of the 16 Congress MLAs attended the meeting, Pradesh Congress President Prasad Harichandan and other senior leaders of the party were conspicuous by their absence.

Biju Janata Dal, on its defence, questioned the very essence of the all-party meeting.

“The very question is: was it an all-party meeting? Or was it a meeting of a group of people who share similar thought process? The PCC President has clearly said that he doesn’t endorse the meeting. On the other hand, the President of Odisha BJP has also not attended. So whose interest is this meeting trying to protest,” questioned BJD Spokesperson Pratap Deb.