By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 6, 2017 : Even as Chhattisgarh government opened two gates so far releasing water in Mahanadi to Odisha, the battle between two neighbouring states over sharing of water from the River intensified.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh once again dared Odisha government to knock the doors of the CWC saying, “It is not a fight between the states. The decision on how much water each state will get is decided by the CWC, not us or Odisha. If anyone has any problem they must approach CWC. Chhattisgarh has constructed all small and big dams with CWC permission.”

“As such there is no water flow in summer. Mahanadi has water flow for only four months in a year. It is only a sand bank throughout the rest of the year,” Singh added.

Meanwhile, Odisha government has said it will indeed take up the issue with the Central government, CWC and Supreme Court.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik also dashed off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apprise him of the possible water scarcity in Mahanadi due to closure of Kalma barrage gate.

“The Odisha government will raise the issue at all platforms,” said BJD MP Pratap Deb.

CM Naveen has also reiterated these issues in his letter to the PM.

Earlier, acceding to the demands of Odisha government, Chhattisgarh on Monday, opened one gate of Kalma barrage. This was informed by an official of Water Resources department of the neighbouring State.

Chief engineer of Odisha Water Resources Department Suresh Jain had earlier had said at a press meet that flow of water has reduced by 40.65 per cent million acre feet in March, 66.56% in April and 79.37% in May 2017 in comparison to last three years even as Chhattisgarh Water Resources Minister Brijmohan Agrawal had rejected Odisha’s allegation of closure of barrage gates.