Mahanadi water: Odisha’s ex-minister demands spl package for

irrigation Bhubaneswar, Sep 9 (PTI) Ahead of the proposed meetingbetween Odisha and Chhattishgarh Chief Ministers over Mahanadiwater dispute, former irrigation minister Niranjan Patnaiktoday suggested the BJD government demand a special packagefrom the Centre for development of irrigation facilities. "Take a strong stand in the meeting with the ChhattisgarhChief Minister and ask for a special package from the Uniongovernment," he wrote in a letter to Chief Minister NaveenPatnaik. Welcoming the proposed meeting between Naveen Patnaik andRaman Singh likely on September 17, the Congress leader saidthe two states should soon be able to agree to a just solutionover sharing of Mahanadi waters. Asserting that Hirakud Dam is a national project and itis the responsibility of the Centre to protect the catchmentarea of Mahanadi. The state should not allow it to die asilent death and the Centre must restore status quo ante,Niranjan said. PTI AAM MDNSD