Sambalpur: BJP leader and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday admitted the blockage of Mahanadi water by the Chhattisgarh government.
Briefing media persons at a press meet here on the occasion of the completion of the fourth year of the BJP government at the Centre, he said the lower catchments of Odisha has been receiving less water of Mahanadi during the non-monsoon season due to blockage of upstream water by the Chhattisgarh government.
He said under no circumstances, the larger interest of Odisha will be compromised.
The Union minister urged the chief minister to take proactive measures by putting pressure on the Chhattisgarh government to release the Mahanadi water.
“I assure that my party will sincerely cooperate with the chief minister to safeguard the interest of the state,” he pointed out.
Stating that the Odisha government has not taken any step to conserve Mahanadi water in the downstream area, Pradhan said both the Odisha and Chhattisgarh government have been providing the river water to industrial units.
Commenting on the remarks of the Union minister, BJD leaders Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Sanjay Dasburma, Sashi Bhusan Behera and Pratap Jena in a press meet in Bhubaneswar in the afternoon said it seems that statement of Pradhan has less sincerity and more compulsion.
“If Pradhan is really concerned over the Mahanadi issue, he should put pressure on the Centre and stop the ongoing construction of projects on Mahanadi till the Tribunal gives its verdict. If he fails in his effort, then it will be understood that what he has told the media today is nothing but a pretension.
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