Water to industries, Naveen violates circular-NCP

Bhubaneswar, Nov 21 (UNI) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Orissa unit convener Bijaya Mohapatra today alleged that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has leased out water from the entire Mahanadi system in favour of the industrial houses.

Mr.Mahapatra told newsmen here that water from Hirakud reservoir, both up stream and down stream of Mahanadi system and 14 canal system had been leased out to as many as 66 industrial houses in the state in clear violation of 1989 circular of the Union government.

He said the Centre on March 27,1989 had issued a circular to all the state governments stating that no diversion of water from the irrigation projects be made other than the domestic purpose.

The NCP Leader said while 20 industries had been permitted to draw water from Hirakud Dam,9 industries were allowed to take water from the up stream of Mahanadi,33 from the down stream and nine industries from the Taladanda canal.

Mr.Mohapatra said the water from the Hirakud reservoir would be dried up if the industries used water from it severely affecting the agriculture in both western and coastal Orissa.

On the stalemate in the Orissa Assembly for the last three days, the NCP leader said he did not understand why the government was so scared of discussion on the water to the industrial houses and make the entire deal open both inside and outside the Assembly.

NCP leader Ashok Das alleged that the BJD-BJP government had declared a war against the farmers of the state by releasing water from the Hirakud Dam and Mahanadi system and warned that the government would be squarely responsible for the situation.

Both Mr.Mohapatra and Mr.Das announced that the NCP would launch a statewide movement against the government to oppose the use of water by the industrial houses from Hirakud dam, irrigation canal and Mahanadi system.

UNI