Congress calls for Odisha shutdown on Mahanadi water issue

Bhubaneswar, Aug 12 (IANS) The Odisha state Congress on Friday called for a statewide shutdown on August 16 to protest construction of barrages and dams on Mahanadi river in its upper catchment area by the Chhattisgarh government.

After a meeting of senior leaders here, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Prasad Harichandan said the party would observe a dawn-to-dusk Odisha shutdown on August 16.

Harichandan said neither the state government nor the Centre has taken any step to resolve the Mahanadi water issue between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

"The Centre should intervene in the matter and should restrain the Chhattisgarh government from constructing the barrages and dams on Mahanadi," said the PCC president.

Harichandan said the Odisha government should take necessary legal action against the neighbouring state over the issue.

The party appealed to the people to support the shutdown call on August 16.

Meanwhile, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) delegation, which visited Chhattisgarh to take stock of the situation, has prepared a report and it would be submitted to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.