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By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, September 18, 2016 : Odisha will explore all legal and other options in the next 10 days to put the construction of ongoing projects on upper Mahanadi by the Chhattisgarh government on hold.

Briefing media persons after the cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday, chief secretary, Aditya Prasad Padhi said, “As the Chhattisgarh government declined to stop work, the State Cabinet felt there is no option but to explore other means to protect the interest of the state, the livelihood and well being of people. It also resolved that the state government should take all possible steps to protect the interests of the people of Odisha”.

The State Cabinet has unequivocally supported the stand of the Odisha government, Padhi added saying that the state government is exploring all legal and other options.

The chief secretary, however, said he cannot give any definitive statement in this regard. “We will do whatever is necessary in 7-10 days”, he pointed out.

Padhi said the meeting also discussed about the legal measures to put the construction of ongoing projects on upper Mahanadi by the Chhattisgarh government on hold.

“This apart, the meeting also discussed about the outcome of the tripartite meeting held in New Delhi yesterday and the future course of action the Odisha government is going to take on this issue”, he added.

Padhi said the chief minister stressed at the tripartite meeting that the Odisha government and people are concerned over Chhattisgarh’s construction activities in the upper catchment of the river basin without sharing the critical data with us or without our consent wherever necessary.

“The chief minister pointed out that he had also apprised the prime minister of Odisha’s concern in this regard, sought his intervention and hoped that the Centre and the Chhattisgarh government will treat the Mahanadi water issue in right spirit of federalism”, he said.

Along with the chief secretary, the meeting was attended by the Development Commissioner, Water Resources Secretary, Law secretary and Advocate General of Odisha.

Briefing media persons soon after his return from New Delhi this afternoon, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said while Chhattisgarh has refused to stop the construction work on the river, unfortunately the Centre was also reluctant to intervene strongly.