BJD fact-finding team submits report to Patnaik on Mahanadi

barrages in C’garh Bhubaneswar, Sep 11 (PTI) A fact-finding team of theruling BJD, which had visited Chhattisgarh to study thebarrages being built in upper reaches of the Mahanadi river,and the impact of those on Odisha today submitted its reportto Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Rajya Sabha MP and former minister Prasanna Acharya wholed the team, and party general secretary and minister DebiPrasad Mishra presented the 23-page report to Patnaik. "The fact-finding team that went to Chhattisgarh toexamine the Hirakud water problem has just presented itsreport," Patnaik said here. Refusing to disclose contents of the report, Acharya hitout at Chhattisgarh government for undertaking construction ofbarrages and other projects saying these would severely affectflow of the Mahanadi river water into Odisha through HirakudDam. Construction works taken up in an unilateral manner isagainst the principles of the federal set-up, he said. The BJD team, formed by Patnaik, who is also the partychief, had undertaken a two-day visit to Chhattisgarh lastmonth and made spot visits to different projects being takenup on Mahanadi river and its tributaries in that state. The team members had also spoken to Chhattisgarhofficials before preparing the report, Acharya said. Submission of the report assumes significance as theOdisha Chief Minister has suggested to the Union WaterResources Ministry that he could join the proposed tripartitetalks on Mahanadi river water dispute on September 17 inDelhi. Patnaik has also called for a preparatory meeting heretomorrow to discuss the issue threadbare ahead of the proposedtripartite talks. PTI SKN SUSNSD