Bhubaneswar: An independent organisation working for the protection of the Mahanadi on Sunday passed a resolution to seek an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and apprise him about the prevalent situation in the basin following the Chhattisgarh government's decision to close the Kalma barrage gates.

The Mahanadi Bachhao Andolan convened the meeting with 13 political parties, including the BJD, Congress and the BJP.

Its convener Sudarshan Das said: "We passed four resolutions on the issue. We will organise a meeting with intellectuals on May 29. The government should constitute an expert team to place the state's arguments before the National Green Tribunal."

It was also decided to put pressure on the Chhattisgarh government to open the barrage gates. "We will start a satyagraha on the issue. All construction work undertaken by that state should be stopped in the Mahanadi upstream," he said.

In a related development, the BJD will launch the Mahanadi Surakshya Jan Sachetanata Abhiyan programme from May 16 from Jharsuguda and Bargarh districts.

Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, however, accused the government of misleading the people on the issue. "Every day, they are coming up with new lies."