Mahanadi water issue: Naveen says Centre no longer a neutral referee

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday said the Union government is no longer a neutral referee on the Mahanadi water dispute with Chhattisgarh.

“What the central government has done in the Supreme Court yesterday suggests that they are no longer neutral referee in this matter,” said the Chief Minister after attending an all-party meeting at the Assembly Speaker Pradip Amat’s chamber.

The union government, through an affidavit on Wednesday, informed the Supreme Court that there is no need to constitute a tribunal to resolve the water issue as the Odisha government did not provide the required information in the matter.

The Chief Minister said a house committee will be formed to take the future course of action on Mahanadi river water dispute.

He said they will have further discussion with leaders of other parties to think about future strategy.

The Chief Minister also assured that Biju Janata Dal will fight for the interest of Odisha.