Writing letters would not resolve Mahanadi water dispute: Pradhan

Bhubaneswar: Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday attacked Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik by saying that writing letters cannot resolve the Mahanadi water dispute with Chhattisgarh.

“Writing letters can’t solve any problem. Instead of coming forward for discussions and work for a solution, the Chief Minister often takes shelter behind letters. It is his old habit,” said the Minister.

Earlier on Friday, Patnaik in a letter requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to constitute a tribunal as per the direction of Supreme Court to resolve Mahanadi water dispute.

He also requested the Prime Minister to direct the Union Water Resources Ministry to issue necessary instructions to Chhattisgarh government to stop construction of ongoing projects on the Mahanadi river.