The Mahanadi river dispute between Biju Janta Dal-ruled Odisha and BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh remains hot politics even after the Union government constituted a tribunal as per apex court’s direction to adjudicate the longstanding issue over sharing of water.
Odisha Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday flagged off the Save Mahanadi Campaign by his party from Sukhosoda village in Jharsuguda district, where the river enters Odisha from Chhatisgarh.
“BJP leaders in Odisha are supporting Chhattisgarh for its projects on Mahanadi upstream and shedding crocodile tears after coming here,” Naveen said while addressing a public meeting at Sukhosoda. The campaign which was also launched from the other side of river at Chikli village of Bargarh district will continue for fifteen days to culminate at Paradeep where the river joins Bay of Bengal. It will cover 15 districts.
Though the issue is taking the shape of Cavery dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in real sense, its political angle remains important. As BJP is emerging as the main challenger to BJD, the latter wants to corner the saffron party on this sensitive issue, emphasising the fact that Mahanadi is the lifeline of Odisha.
Moreover as election for state assembly will be held along with the Lok Sabha polls in early 2019, it is natural that BJD has found a touchy issue against the BJP which is ruling both in Centre and Chhattisgarh. Hence Mahanadi Mahasangram.
Odisha’s complaint is that Chhattisgarh has already built seven barrages and is constructing another 16 barrages in Mahanadi upstreams reducing the water flow into Odisha. Naveen said at Sukhasoda on Wednesday: “Mahanadi remains dry in most of the year except rainy season. If BJP leaders have sympathy for Odisha, they should oppose Chhattisgarh's projects. Mahanadi is the lifeline of Odisha. BJD government has moved Supreme Court for the rights of Odisha following which Mahanadi tribunal has been constituted. Mahanadi is drying in Odisha due to construction of barrages by Chhatisgarh. The water level in Hirakud reservoir built on the river in Odisha side is also decreasing. We will not let Mahanadi to dry. It is not the fight of BJD, but for the people of Odisha—for our next generation.”
During the campaign, roadside gatherings and cultural programmes in villages and towns on the route will be held, said energy minister Sushanta Singh who belongs to Bargarh district in western Odisha bordering Chhattisgarh.
He added that diyas will be offered to gods in temples of both sides of the river, including Maa Samaleswari at Sambalpur on the banks of Hirakud dam and at Lord Gadgadeswar at Cuttack.
BJD has been trying to use Mahanadi issue as a political weapon against BJP for quite sometime. Before last year’s rural poll, BJD tried to raise both Mahanadi and Polavaram issue to corner BJP-led NDA government in Delhi besides neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh governments which were part of NDA at that time. However, BJP’s massive gain in zilla parishad elections, particularly in western Odisha bordering Chhattisgarh, showed that BJD strategy failed.
Even Chhatisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, who has all along countered Odisha’s complaint, had come to western Odisha to campaign for the BJP. Of course, lately the political scenario has changed. BJD’s victory in byelection in Bijepur assembly segment in last February with huge margin against BJP has showed that.
BJD continues to be more active and Mahanadi movement is one among several issues the party has taken up against BJP and Narendra Modi government. In its current agitation, BJD wants that Chhattisgarh should stop construction of all ongoing barrages on Mahanadi.
Odisha has complained that Chhattisgarh has stopped water discharge from Kalma barrage in the border. The Mahanadi tribunal set up by the Centre is headed by Supreme Court judge A.M. Khanwilkar. The two other members in the panel are Justice Ravi Ranjan of Patna High Court and Justice Indwermeet Kaur Kochar of Delhi High Court. The tribunal will take a decision on water sharing among the basin states on the basis of overall availability of water.
The tribunal has to submit its report in next three years. Odisha demands that the tribunal be functional soon. In the recent budget session of Odisha assembly, an all party committee headed by the chief minister has been formed on Mahandi issue. The committee will meet the prime minister and put forth Odisha’s demand.
Earlier a meeting of both the chief ministers had been called by Union minister Uma Bharati. However, it failed to resolve the issue. A house committee of MLAs of all parties led by the Speaker is also looking into the issue. While all non-BJP opposition parties are supporting the stand of the BJD, they also blame state government for failing to build barrages in Odisha side.
Union petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan has always said Odisha should sort it out through discussion with Centre and Chhattisgarh. BJP’s spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said BJD is just doing politics on Mahanadi. Recently, Pradip Jena, IAS, Principal Secretary, Water Resources said the state government has decided to build barrages in lower stream of Mahanadi.
The chief minister while launching his party’s 830 km campaign said: “In some places, barrages will be built. But it will be ensured that there will be no displacement.” A second dam or barrages on Mahanadi has always remained sensitive leading to a coastal versus western Odisha mindset that had culminated after construction of Hirakud after independence leading to huge displacement. So, the chief minister has been cautious.
BJD’s Mahanadi campaign would cover 45 assembly constituencies of the state to give a political message. Another non-political forum, Save Mahanadi Andolan, led by activist Sudarshan Das has gone to National Green Tribunal against barrages being built by Chhattisgarh. It had held meetings of leaders of all parties including BJP and has sought appointment with the prime minister.
Anyway, Mahanadi is going to be a major issue in future months in Odisha.