Mahanadi Projects Issue: Mishra Condemns ‘Hypocrisy’ Of Odisha Govt

Bhubaneswar: Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra on Thursday lashed out at the  BJD government for its double standard on Mahanadi water issue.

Mishra rubbished the claim of the state government that it was not kept in the loop over the construction of barrages and dams on the upper catchment area of Mahanadi by the Chhattisgarh government.

“In 2001, the Assembly had discussed the Mahanadi project issue. The Chief Minister had replied in the house that he would not allow Chhattisgarh government to construct barrages and dams without consulting the Odisha government,” said the senior Congress leader.

He read out the statement of the Chief Minister, which said, ” the breathsChhattisgarh government will not be allowed to go on constructing dams and barrages without consulting us.”

He also mocked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s recent statement that he will fight for the interest of the state breathes his last.

“This is utter hypocrisy of the state government. The Chief Minister deliberately allowed construction of projects on Mahanadi as the projects would fetch water to industries,” said Mishra.