Odisha sends reminder to Chattisgarh on Mahanadi projects

Bhubaneswar, Aug 17 (PTI) The Odisha government todaysent a reminder to Chhattishgarh, seeking early release ofinformation on projects lined up on the upstream of theMahanadi river. A copy of the reminder was also submitted to theCentral Water Commission. "The Chhattisgarh government had promised at the jointmeeting on July 29 that it will share information on ongoingprojects on the upstream of river Mahanadi within 15 days.Though the deadline has passed, the Chhattishgarh govenrmenthas not given any information in this regard," state chiefsecrretary A P Padhi told reporters here. The Odisha government, which reserved its decision onwhether to go for a joint control board formation to resolvethe water dispute with Chhattishgarh, however, had maintainedthat it would take a decision only after getting the requiredinformation from the neighbouring state. The Chhattishgarh government had allegedly constructeda number of projects on the upstream of the Mahanadi withoutconsulting Odisha even as they were co-basin states. The Odisha govenrment had sought information on thenumber of projects already completed, the number of projectsunder construction and Chhattishgarh’s plan for more projects. Meanwhile, the ruling BJD’s fact-finding team that hadvisited Chhattisgarh over the Mahanadi issue, is currently inthe process of preparing its report to be sumbitted to thechief minister. PTI AAM MDUZM