Demand to make Odisha government’s water data public

Bhubaneswar: The opposition BJD on Friday asked the Odisha government to make public data on water availability in the Mahanadi River to ensure transparency. Meanwhile, activists of the Mahanadi Bachao Andolan (MBA) were detained while trying to meet Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

The demand comes at a time when the Mahanadi water-sharing dispute is being heard before the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal, formed in 2018. In a memorandum sent to the Chief Minister, the MBA, an organization spearheading the river conservation movement, said, “We require your immediate intervention regarding the hydrological data on water availability and storage in the Mahanadi basin, which was presented to the Tribunal during the recent hearing on May 2.”

MBA convener Sudarshan Das alleged that the data recently presented by the Joint Technical Committee (JTC), reportedly approved by the Odisha and Chhattisgarh governments, was misleading and inconsistent with Odisha’s earlier stance.

He claimed that these figures could adversely impact Odisha’s legal position, ecological interests, and water rights before the tribunal. “Accepting these inflated water availability figures could undermine Odisha’s claims regarding low flows, upstream dams, environmental downstream needs, and future water security,” Das alleged. Officials reported that a group of MBA activists, including Das, were detained by police while marching toward the Chief Minister’s residence to submit a memorandum, but were later released. Odisha had alleged that Chhattisgarh was obstructing the free flow of the Mahanadi River by building barrages and dams upstream, following which the Centre formed the tribunal in 2018. BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said that despite nearly eight years having passed since the tribunal was formed, the case is still in court and no decision has been reached. Questioning the state government, Mohanty asked why water availability data cannot be made public. He said, “People should know what stand the state government is taking before the tribunal to protect the interests of Odisha,” alleging that the government is trying to conceal facts and mislead the public. In a statement, the BJD alleged that the BJP government in Odisha has no clear path to resolving the dispute.

The party said, “Initially, the government had said that the issue would be resolved through mutual dialogue, but no progress has been made.”

The opposition party also alleged that the BJP is putting its party’s interests above the interests of the people of Odisha.

The statement further said, “Chhattisgarh is not willing to listen to Odisha, while the central government remains a mute spectator.”

Mohanty further alleged that Chhattisgarh is building check dams and sand embankments in downstream areas and tributaries to store excess water, while people in Odisha are facing water shortages.

He also alleged that Chhattisgarh is supplying water to industries.

He claimed, “Instead of resolving this issue, the BJP government in Odisha is staging a drama.”

Meanwhile, Odisha Advocate General Pitambar Acharya said that the state government is seriously trying to protect Odisha’s interests and expressed hope that talks between the Chief Ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh will resolve the dispute.