New Delhi, July 26: The Centre today conceded that the Chhattisgarh government had started work on a project over the Mahanadi river without the Central Water Commission's approval but expressed its inability to stop it merely on the ground of the Odisha government's objection.

Amid intense verbal duels between Lok Sabha members from Odisha and Chhattisgarh during a calling attention motion today, the Centre asked the two states to discuss the issues at the July 29 meeting and offered to form a tribunal to settle the dispute if no solution could be found amicably.

The Narendra Modi government appeared to be supportive of Chhattisgarh's argument that most of the projects were minor and not requiring the Centre's approval. It seemed reluctant to appreciate Odisha's point that smaller barrages taken together would have a significant impact on the downstream basin state, violating an understanding arrived at when the Hirakud dam was built.

Responding to the debate in the House, minister of state for water resources Sanjeev Balyan said: "In the case of Arpa barrage, it is true that the technical advisory committee's approval had not come and yet the Chhattisgarh government started construction. But, I cannot order it to stop. It is beyond my jurisdiction. Both states should discuss the issues at the July 29 meeting. A tribunal will be set up if no solution is found."

TWO STATES AND A RIVER

The BJD said "illegal activities" by Chhattisgarh started around 10 years ago, but Balyan said the Centre received the first complaint by Odisha only a month ago. The BJP has been ruling in Chhattisgarh for over 15 years.

Though the BJD in Parliament has been working in tune with the Modi government in the recent past, their interests may clash in state politics.

While asserting that most of the projects referred to by Odisha in its complaint were minor and requiring no central role, the minister said Chhattisgarh did send a detailed project report (DPR) to them on major projects. "One project (Kelo) was completed in 2009, why is the objection being raised now?" Balyan said, asserting that the main problem lay in the failure to set up a Joint Control Board as envisaged by the initial agreement of 1983.

Promising to initiate the process of a Joint Control Board, Balyan said the Centre would intervene to resolve genuine issues, but Chhattisgarh was free to build minor barrages (under 2000 mcf).

Water resources minister Uma Bharti said the Centre would find a solution to satisfy both the states. She said: "Odisha is very dear to us, we can't imperil its interests."

Odisha MPs were not at all satisfied as they passionately argued that Chhattisgarh was constructing barrages illegally and conspiring to kill the Hirakud dam. They rejected the logic of smaller projects, saying that the collective impact was hurting several districts of Odisha during the non-monsoon season.

Chhattisgarh MPs, however, strongly defended their government's right to build projects for the state's development and pointed out that Odisha's share of Mahanadi water was still around 80 per cent.

Odisha MPs said while Chhattisgarh was making barrages for generating power for private industries, their state was being starved of water for drinking and irrigation. While Bhartuhari Mahtab pointed out that Odisha had written several letters to Chhattisgarh and the Centre in this context, Kalikesh Singh Deo gave the example of India's objections to China's constructions on the Brahmaputra and wondered how the same principle was not applied on domestic disputes.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh's son Abhishek Singh argued that Odisha never took up the matter seriously in the past and suggested constitution of a National River Basin Organisation to settle such disputes.

The BJD's Tathagat Sathapati, in a brief emotional intervention, asked how can a state "choke" its neighbour? There was a heated duel when petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is from Odisha, vaguely appeared to be defending the Chhattisgarh line.

Mahtab repeatedly asked the Centre to stop construction of projects till a settlement was reached. He hoped that the Centre would take a "sane judgement" and ensure that no construction was done without the consent of the downstream basin states.

"The question is why the Central Water Commission is flouting norms... The government should rise to the occasion and do justice to Odisha," he said.

In the Rajya Sabha too, the Centre admitted that Chhattisgarh had started work on a project without the necessary approval.

Balyan said the memorandum of agreement signed between Madhya Pradesh and Odisha in 1983 on the Mahanadi provided for setting up a Joint Control Board to review and plan inter-state irrigation projects on the river basin. The committee has not been formed yet. Both the states had to set up the committee.

Bharti said the concerns would be taken care of.

Not satisfied with the reply, the BJD members staged a walkout.

BJD leader A.U. Singdeo said these projects would severely affect Odisha. He said 65 per cent of the state depended on the river.

Trinamul Congress leader D. Bandyopadhyay and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wanted to know if the Chhattisgarh government had taken environmental clearance for all the projects.

In Odisha, the BJD's youth wing staged a demonstration in Bargarh for the second consecutive day today over the issue.

Taking a dig at the Congress and the BJP, BJD spokesman Pratap Keshari Deb said: "We know that the leaders of the national parties will never go against the decision of their high commands."

Reacting to Opposition leader Narasingha Mishra's demand for convening an all-party meeting, Deb said the Congress did not open its mouth when the BJD had raised its voice against the Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh.

State BJP president Basant Panda said Naveen should explain why his government had slept on the issue.