Mahanadi Water Dispute: Congress Seeks President’s Intervention

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The Congress legislators of Odisha led by Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra on Thursday urged President of India Pranab Mukherjee to direct the central government to constitute an interstate water dispute tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi water sharing dispute.

“We met the President and apprised him about the Mahanadi water dispute with Chhattisgarh. We urged him to kindly intervene into the matter and protect the interest of Odisha,” Mishra told media persons after meeting Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.

Informing that the unilateral construction on the upper catchment of Mahanadi river would affect the water flow into Hirakud reservoir, he said the President has been urged to direct the central government to stop the construction activities immediately.

“It is the responsibility of the Prime Minister to resolve the interstate dispute. But unfortunately, he has remained silent on the issue. What could be more unfortunate, the Odisha Chief Minister, not taking everyone including the political parties, is doing politics,” said the senior Congress leader.

He informed that the President has assured them to take necessary steps in this regard.