Bhubaneswar, Nov 12 (Odisha.iN) The Orissa unit of National Congress party (NCP) Sunday demanded scrapping of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Industrial houses by state Government ensuring supply of waters from Hirakud System .
“Without cancellation of the MoU’s signed by the State Government with the Industrial Houses , the announcement of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik not to supply a drop of water meant for agricultural pruposes to Industries, is a hoax”., said Bijoy Mohapatra convenor of Orissa Unit of NCP.
“Unless the MoU’s are cancelled, the Industrial Houses have the right to draw water from the Hirakud reservoir and Mahanandi river system, as state government has agreed in principle “, he pointed out.
“It is a drama and Chief Minister is trying to misled and befool the people of Orissa particularly the farming community”, Mohapatra said alleging that the state government was violating the National Water Policy and the State Water Policy, which envisaged priority would be given to provide waters to drinking and agriculture.
Critising the Chief Minister for his announcement to increase the carrying capacity of Hirakud Reservoir as irresponsible and impossible, Mohapatra lamented,” Naveen Babu is ignorant of the functioning of the Dam and its system”.
“Chief Minister should first pay a visit to the Hirakud dam and know the functioning of the entire system,” he said and added that the reservoir is losing its capacity due to the blockage of inflow of water in the upper catchments by the Chhatisgarh government for erection of number of barrages.
He said the way the industries were trying to take waters, not only the power generation, agriculture and drinking water supply would be seriously affected, the Hirakud reservoir will be defunct and the farmers will be perished.
Keeping in view the state government should shun the idea of providing waters meant for farming to Industrial use; he said and urged that industries should be asked to utilize other water sources including ground water for their captive use with the facility for recharging.
Condemning the lalthicharge by police at Burla on the innocent farmers who were protesting against the supply of waters frm Hirakud to industries, he said that Chief Minister has failed to address their concern despite the continuous agitation.
Odisha.in