By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, January 3, 2017 : Even as Odisha is locked in a raging controversy over sharing of water from Mahanadi with neighbouring Chatisgarh, the centre’s proposed linking of Brahmaputra has sparked off another row.

The Naveen Patnaik government has criticised the centre for keeping the state in dark over the river linking plan. Linking of Brahmaputra with Mahanadi is part of the Modi government’s ambitious plan of 30 river linking projects at a cost of Rs 5.60 lakh crore.

The union ministry of water resources has prepared a feasibility report of linking the Brahmaputra with Mahanadi indirectly through Ganga (Faraka)-Damodar-Subarnarekha and Subarnarekha-Mahanadi link.

“They have not yet given the proposal formally. All aspects including impact on climate, residents and land acquisition will be analysed thoroughly once the State government receives details of the project,” Water resources secretary Pradeep Jena said.

The rive linking issue already has led to political spat between the Biju Janata Dal [BJD] and the Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] in the state. The ruling party in the state made it clear that the proposed project will crop up another inter-State water dispute if Odisha is kept in dark.

“It can’t be carried out if the Centre exerts pressure. It will emerge as another inter-State dispute. The Centre is always busy implementing projects for the interest of other States while turning a blind eye to Odisha”, BJD spokesperson Amar Satpathy said.

However, the BJP hoped the river linking project would benefit Odisha. “The river linking would definitely benefit the State. The BJD government knows well whether Centre is concerned for the interest of Odisha or not. The State government has been claiming that it would not have impact on Odisha if Chhattisgarh took away water from Mahanadi which the neighbouring State did already”, BJP leader Golak Mohapatra said.