Bhubaneswar: An all-party meeting led by Speaker
P K Amat
on Thursday decided to constitute an assembly panel on
Mahanadi
water dispute between
Odisha and
Chhattisgarh
.
All three major parties BJD, Congress and BJP agreed to work together after the NDA government at the Centre expressed its unwillingness to constitute a tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi water.
Informing it here after the meeting, BJD president and chief minister
Naveen Patnaik slammed the Centre. “What the Central government has done at the Supreme Court; it suggests that they are (NDA government) no longer neutral referee in this matter. BJD will fight for the interest of the people of Odisha particularly farmers,” Naveen told reporters after an all-party meeting.
On future course of action, the chief minister said he will have discussion with leaders of other parties to take a call on the future strategy of the state government.
In a recent affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, the Centre accused the state government of not adducing evidence in support of its demand to constitute a tribunal. The Centre alleged the state government of not submitting any data till date.
Centre’s refusal to constitute the tribunal also led to pandemonium in the state assembly forcing the speaker for repeated adjournments of the house. Amid uproar, the assembly could not transact any business till 6pm.
As soon as the house started, the BJD MLAs started sloganeering against the Centre’s attitude from their respective seats while the Congress and BJP MLAs rushed into the well over the Mahanadi issue.
Briefing reporters outside, leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra hit lashed out at the Centre for objecting to constitute the tribunal. “The Centre has betrayed the people of Odisha over Mahanadi issue. When a state government appeals the Centre to constitute a tribunal to resolve water dispute, Centre is bound to constitute it. They cannot refuse. But on Mahanadi issue, the Centre has refused to form the tribunal by citing various excuses. It’s Centre’s beimani towards Odisha,” said Mishra.
After the all party meeting, Mishra urged the chief minister to convene the all party meeting as soon as possible.
The BJP criticized the state government for not providing adequate information to form the tribunal. “The state government is not interested to protect the interest of Odisha over Mahanadi. We had demanded the state government to come up with a white paper on the issue but it failed to do so as it lacks adequate data. The real face of the ruling party has been exposed in the Supreme Court,” said BJP MLA Pradip Purohit.
BJP leader K V Singh Deo said BJP is ready to stand with the state government for the interest of Odisha.
To protest against the Centre’s decision, the Mahanadi Bachao Andolon has announced to stage rail-roko (only goods train) from 10 am to 1pm on Friday in 17 districts.
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