Mahanadi water dispute: BJD to stage hartal in four districts

Bhubaneswar: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday said it would stage hartal in four districts on Saturday protesting the unilateral construction of barrages over Mahanadi river by Chhattisgarh government.

Rajya Sabha member and BJD vice-president Prasanna Acharya said the party would observe 4-hour peaceful hartal (strike) from 6 to 10 am on Saturday in Sambalpur, Bargarh, Sonepur and Jharsuguda districts over the Mahanadi river water issue.

Emergency services, however, will be exempted from the strike, added Acharya.