CM Raman indicates Mahanadi water dispute with Odisha may prolong

“At the Chief Secretary level meeting at Delhi, it was decided to share all important data of Mahanadi river water. Chhattisgarh has already provided relevant data to Bhubaneswar on the proforma fixed by the Centre. But despite several reminders Odisha has not yet provided any information so far on the issue,” top state government officials informed Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh during a high level meeting on the issue.

In the second week of September, Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti has convened a meeting of both the Chief Ministers to iron out differences among the neighbours. But CM Dr Raman Singh has clearly stated “the case of Chhattisgarh will be presented strongly in that meeting with all facts and figures.”

“Hirakud Dam was constructed in 1957 and it is irrelevant to raise the issue of Hirakud reservoir and Mahanadi water sharing by Odisha after 59 years,” said Singh indicating that the BJP government here was not in a mood to give any more space to Odisha on the issue.

Before the Centre convened meeting, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh on Thursday night discussed with his Water Resources Minister Brij Mohan Agrawal, Chief Secretary Vivek Kumar Dhand, Principal Secretary Aman Kumar Singh and other top officials on the dispute with Odisha for sharing of river water from Mahanadi.

The state government also clarified that the barrages, constructed on river Mahanadi, would not affect the water intake of Hirakud reservoir of Odisha as the barrages are meant for checking rain water and not having any diversion bear to check the normal flow.

In the meeting Chief Minister also questioned the motive of Odisha to raise the Mahanadi issue after 59 years of construction of Hirakud dam and said Mahanadi carry average 40,773 MCM water, where as the Hirakud dam has a capacity of only 5400 MCM capacity, adding Mahanadi water can fill seven such Hirakud reservoirs.