The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the principal Opposition party in Odisha, on Friday condemned the police action against activists of the Mahanadi Bachao Andolan when they attempted to march to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s residence.

The Commissionerate Police allegedly picked up the activists near Lok Bhavan while they were proceeding towards the chief minister’s residence to seek discussions and submit a memorandum on the river dispute.

The activists, led by Mahanadi Bachao Andolan convener Sudarshan Das, alleged that the Odisha government had submitted false data on the flow of the Mahanadi and the availability of water in the state before the Mahanadi Water Dispute Tribunal in New Delhi during the hearing on May 2.

Addressing a media meet here, BJD spokesperson and lawyer Lenin Mohanty termed the police action “undemocratic” and said the activists were removed despite attempting to raise an issue concerning Odisha’s interests.

Mohanty said the BJP government in Odisha had no clear strategy to resolve the Mahanadi water dispute. “Initially, it was said that a solution would be found through mutual discussions, but there has been no progress,” he said.

He alleged that Chhattisgarh was continuing to construct check dams and sand embankments in downstream areas and tributaries to stop more water while Odisha faced a severe shortage. Mohanty claimed Chhattisgarh was supplying water to industries even as people in Odisha struggled
for water.

Mohanty also demanded that the data on Mahanadi water resources submitted by Odisha and Chhattisgarh before the tribunal be made public. He alleged that the detention of activists seeking discussions with the chief minister indicated that the state government was trying to hide information related to the river dispute.

Mohanty maintained that transparency and discussions were necessary to protect Odisha’s interests in the inter-state water dispute.