Bhubaneswar: Congress today said it would support the Odisha government to protect the state's interest in the Mahanadi water dispute with Chhattisgarh, but blamed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the situation.
"We are ready to accompany the Chief Minister and meet the Prime Minister for resolving the Mahanadi issue," Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said in the Assembly during a special discussion on the dispute.
Slamming Chhattisgarh for unilaterally building projects on the upstream of the river, Mr Mishra said, "Odisha should approach the Centre for setting up a tribunal to solve the matter. We also ask the state government to publish a white paper on the issue enabling people to know how they will be hit by projects in upstream of the river," he said.
"Therefore, the ruling party avoids taking opposition parties along with it to oppose the Chhattisgarh government's activities," he alleged.
The Congress leader said the Chief Minister must win the confidence of all political parties to jointly fight for the state's interest.
In 2003, the state government had claimed that water flow will not be affected even if Chhattishgarh built dams in the upper portion of the river. It even said that the opposition was making unnecessary hue and cry over the matter, he claimed.
"Now the state government says that Chhattishgarh built the projects without informing Odisha," the Congress leader said.
The Congress leader slammed the Chief Minister who is also water resources minister for his absence in the House during the debate on the sensitive matter.
"We are ready to accompany the Chief Minister and meet the Prime Minister for resolving the Mahanadi issue," Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said in the Assembly during a special discussion on the dispute.
Slamming Chhattisgarh for unilaterally building projects on the upstream of the river, Mr Mishra said, "Odisha should approach the Centre for setting up a tribunal to solve the matter. We also ask the state government to publish a white paper on the issue enabling people to know how they will be hit by projects in upstream of the river," he said.
"Therefore, the ruling party avoids taking opposition parties along with it to oppose the Chhattisgarh government's activities," he alleged.
Advertisement
The Congress leader said the Chief Minister must win the confidence of all political parties to jointly fight for the state's interest.
Advertisement
In 2003, the state government had claimed that water flow will not be affected even if Chhattishgarh built dams in the upper portion of the river. It even said that the opposition was making unnecessary hue and cry over the matter, he claimed.
Advertisement
"Now the state government says that Chhattishgarh built the projects without informing Odisha," the Congress leader said.
Advertisement
The Congress leader slammed the Chief Minister who is also water resources minister for his absence in the House during the debate on the sensitive matter.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Odisha Chief Minister-Designate Meets Naveen Patnaik, Invites Him To Oath Ceremony "Congress Didn't Appoint Tribal Chief Minister Barring In...": Union Minister Naveen Patnaik's 24-Year WFH A Headache For New Odisha Government Life On Earth Originates From One Ancestor, Older Than Previously Believed Kolkata Rape-Murder: Fractures, 150 mg Semen, Other Claims Denied By Cops Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah To Be Prosecuted In Land Scam Case 100 Firefighters Tackle Large Blaze At Historic London Art Centre Tahawwur Rana, 26/11 Mumbai Attacks Accused, Can Be Sent To India: US Court Mumbai University Invites Applications For Distance Learning Courses Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.