Raman Singh tries to defuse crisis as Mahanadi row threatens to escalate

Raipur: Chief Minister Raman Singh on Saturday said Mahanadi River is for both Chhattisgarh and Odisha and added that there is no controversy with regard to its water sharing.

"I don't consider it as a dispute. Mahanadi belongs to both Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The nature has given so much water to Mahanadi that there is no question of any dispute. At least seven percent catchment area belongs to Chhattisgarh and the amount of water that is being to Hirakund Dam...it can be filled thrice," Singh told the media here.

Singh said Mahanadi is a connecting river between Odisha and Chhattisgarh and if the water of the river is used scientifically, it would be beneficial for both the states.

"All the gates are open during rain. One million cubic metre of water got reduced in the last 70 years. If the shield is reduced, the capacity will increase. I don't think there is any issue of Mahanadi water between Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Mahanadi is a connecting river between Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Mahanadi has so much amount of water that if it used scientifically then it would benefit both Chhattisgarh and Odisha," he added.

The tripartite meeting between the Centre, Odisha and Chhattisgarh over the Mahanadi water issue will be held in New Delhi today.

The meeting will be chaired by Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati.

Chief Ministers of both the states will also be present. Odisha and Chhattisgarh are at loggerheads over sharing waters of the Mahanadi River.

Odisha has accused Chhattisgarh of not consulting it while building seven to eight barrages on the Mahanadi, saying that it is affecting the flow of the river.

The Chhattisgarh Government has questioned Odisha's objection to the barrages, saying the barrages are not at all hampering the flow.

There has been a demand from Odisha to set up of a tribunal to look into the issue of water-sharing.