BJD ups ante; to hold Mahanadi Maha Sammilani on April 15

ONI Bureau: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has decided to corner the Centre and BJP on the issue of Mahanadi. The party has called for a ‘Maha Sammilani’ on the issue of Mahanadi water dispute, accusing Chhattisgarh Govt of hatching a conspiracy to dry the Ib River.

At a press meet attended by senior leaders Prasanna Acharya, Debi Mishra, Sanjay Dasburma and Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, the BJD alleged that Chhattisgarh is going to construct a barrage on the Maini River, which is a subsidiary of Ib. If that’s done, it would dry the Ib River leading to severe water crisis in Brajarajnagar, they alleged.

“The Centre is yet to set up the Mahanadi Tribunal. No ‘Term of Reference’ and ‘infrastructure’ have been finalised. Chhattisgarh Govt has already closed all 66 gates of Kalma Barrage. It has resulted in water scarcity in Odisha,” claimed BJD.

To decide its future course of action, BJD has called for the ‘Maha Sammilani’ in Bhubaneswar on April 15. Ministers, MPs, MLAs, Chairpersons of Blocks, NACs and Municipalities as well representatives from student, women and youth organisations will attend the meet.