CUTTACK: The war over diversion of Mahanadi water to industries from Cuttack has assumed a new dimension with the Orissa High Cour..
CUTTACK: The war over diversion of Mahanadi water to industries from Cuttack has assumed a new dimension with the Orissa High Court stepping in on Friday to issue a stay on the constructions on the river bed.
The Division Bench of Justices BP Das and MM Das directed a halt to the construction work undertaken at Hadia Patha to draw water from the river for supply to the IOCL oil refinery at Paradip. Acting on a writ petition filed by advocate Nishikanta Mishra, the Bench directed the collector, Cuttack, and the CDA authorities to ensure that the construction is stalled forthwith. The order coincided with intensifying agitation against the drawing of water by several organisations, including the Mahanadi Banchao Andolan (MBA). The MBA is spearheading the movement against water diversion along with the citizens' forum Cuttack Banchao Committee. Opposition political parties the BJP and the Congress also staged dharnas to protest the construction.
A team of MBA led by former minister and BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra, former MLAs Samir Dey and Umesh Swain, former mayor of Cuttack Nibedita Pradhan and convener Gouranga Charan Hota on Friday laid siege to the construction site. The construction undertaken over seven acre at Hadia Patha right inside the core reservoir zone of Jobra Barrage would spell disaster for Cuttack and several other districts in terms of drinking water and irrigation. It is also in gross violation of rules, the team said. The construction was illegal as the Government had only last year issued directions prohibiting setting up of permanent structure in the river. "The officials of the Lanco, which is carrying out the project, could not show any authorisation or permission for the construction. The illegal activity and pushing millions of people into danger will not be tolerated and the movement would be further intensified," spokesperson Dillip Mallick said."How can such huge volume of water be drawn when the foremost task of the Government was to dredge the siltation of the reservoir area," leader Subash Singh said.
Comments
0 comment