Bhubaneswar, June 17: Senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra today warned that if no settlement were done on the water-sharing of the Mahanadi between the two warring states - Odisha and Chhattisgarh, major parts of the state would submerge during flood in the coming days, particularly in the monsoon.

Addressing a news conference here, Mohapatra said: "At present, we have no data how much water they will store in their barrages and how much they will release during the monsoon period."

Coming down heavily on the Central Water Commission (CWC) for not playing its role in setting down the water dispute issue between the two states - Odisha and Chhattisgarh, he said: "This is not time to play politics over the issue. Mahanadi is the lifeline of Odisha. If we fail to take adequate steps to protect the interests, the future generation will not excuse us."

He also condemned the controversial statement of Chhattisgarh state commercial tax and industries minister Amar Agrawal that his government had taken money from the industrial houses to construct barrages on the Mahanadi and committed to provide water to them for next fifteen years.

"The minister has forgotten that Mahanadi is an inter-state river. His statements are not acceptable. He has given one-sided statement keeping the interest of his state only," he said.

BJP state vice-president Samir Mohanty said: "Being a former irrigation minister himself, Mohapatra has conducted an in-depth study on the Mahanadi water-sharing issue. Whatever suggestion he has given should be accepted by the state government."

"Mohapatra has not said anything wrong. The CWC should work to create a conducive atmosphere. Even he has indicated that the water level on Mahanadi has been receded. One of the pertinent questions that he raised how the Nabard has funded Chhattisgarh's project which has not yet been approved by the CWC itself," said BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb.