• The Opposition has alleged that your party decided to launch the Save Mahanadi campaign from May 16 only to gain political mileage ahead of the general polls. How do you react to this?
If the Opposition raises all these irrelevant questions, we have nothing to say. By raising these inappropriate questions, attempt is being made to divert the people from the main issue. The Mahanadi issue is above politics. It is linked with the fate of 4.5 crore people of the state. It is linked with the future generations of the state. The next generations will not forgive us if we don't fight to protect the Mahanadi. By saying that we are trying to gain political mileage, the opposition parties are making an attempt to belittle the issue.
• You did say earlier that even if the Chhattisgarh government built hundreds of barrages, it would not affect state's interests...
The situation has changed over the years. We had thou- ght they built barrages to irrigate less than 2,000 hectares. But instead of building small barrages, they have built huge barrages with to provide water to industrial houses and not for irrigation purposes.
• Are we reacting late to the issue?
Suppose some people commit a mistake. Is it a sin to rectify it now? Will we not take up the issue if we have committed some mistakes in the past? It is a burning issue. If we don't stand up to protect the Mahanadi, no one will excuse us. Yes, it's true that sometimes people have questioned why Odisha did not react properly on the issue earlier. When a riparian state builds any barrage it has to take consent of the neighbouring state located down stream. It has to let the state know about the plans. Chhattisgarh did not inform us that it had undertaken the construction of big barrages that would ultimately affect the flow in the Mahanadi.
• How severe is the threat?
The situation at present is grave and will be graver in future. Last year, as head of a delegation, I had visited almost all the barrages they have built over Mahanadi. Now they have closed 65 of the 66 gates of the Kalma barrage (last of the three big barrages in Chhattisgarh). The river is almost dry. Let me cite an example. Residents of a small village called Sukhasoda, who had been dependent on the Mahanadi for generations, have started leaving their village in search of other livelihood because the river has dried up. When the situation turned grave, the Centre played a partisan role to help the Chhatisgarh government. First, it delayed the formation of a tribunal over a year and then delayed sending the term of reference. All these have been done keeping in mind the upcoming elections in Chhattisgarh.
• Can you elaborate your Save Mahanadi campaign plan?
We have decided to launch our agitation from the two sides of the Mahanadi where it enters Odisha. One of these is Sukhasoda village in Jharsuguda district and across the river is Ambabhona in Baragarh district. We will conclude our journey at Paradip where the river joins the Bay of Bengal. We will not travel the entire Mahanadi basin. We will move through major areas which depend on Mahanadi like Bhatli and Jharsuguda. We will meet people and sensitise them on the need to save the Mahanadi.
• Is that is the reason why the Opposition sees politics behind the move ? They have gone to the extent of saying that your party is going to organise a picnic...
We have lost many elections and won many too. It should not be looked at that way... If we lose the Mahanadi, we will lose everything. By making such statements, they have insulted the people of the state.
• Why have we failed to construct a second dam on the Mahanadi?
Whenever government makes any plan for construction of any barrages on the river, there is protest from the Opposition. Let us take the example of the Sindhol project. We have seen how there was a series of protests. On the other hand, we cannot stop a river from meeting the sea. We cannot check water. If we do it, there will be a serious ecological disturbances. But in spite of all this, let us plan to build barrages on Mahanadi. The Opposition should join hands with us on this.
• Your defeat in Bijepur in the 2014 Assembly elections had led to speculations that your clout in west Odisha was going down. But your nomination to Rajya Sabha indicated that you remain a force to reckon with. What is your own assessment of your position vis a vis politics of west Odisha?
My political journey is a long one. I started my political career during my student days. I had spent more than one-and-half years in jail for taking part in various agitation programmes. I was first arrested during the JP movement. I have seen many ups and downs. By losing an election, if someone thinks his political career is over, he is wrong. Even Biju babu, Vajpayeeji and Indira Gandhi had lost elections. As long as you are working for the people and are with them, no one can sideline you.
• You have strong rivals in west Odisha in the shape of labour minister Sushant Singh and textile minister Shenagini Chhurria. Do you perceive them as threats?
Politics is always about perception. Biju babu had picked me up when I was a young chap and made me president of the Janata Dal of the undivided Sambalpur district where there were many seniors. A new generation of leaders came up and took up the rein. I was also made a minister. Similarly, we should give opportunity to the new generation. A number of young leaders such as Sushant Singh, Snehangini Churuia and Debesh Acharya have come up. They are our assets. Why should I treat them as my rivals? I have had a long political career. I have never confined myself to a single constituency. I had moved around the state. Losing and winning election is a part of the process.
• Neglect of west Odisha remains a big issue. It was raised by BJP national president Amit Shah during his recent visit to the region.
I fear he knows precious little about the history of the region, its language and its people. We have a distinct culture. The people of the area were not given justice over the years. Now things have changed. Many developmental works have been undertaken for the region under the leadership of our chief minister Naveen Patnaik.
• But why has the headquarters of Western Odisha Council not been shifted to the region so far? Even a second bench of Orissa High Court is still eluding the people here.
The Odisha government has already told the council to suggest a name for setting up the headquarters. Once the location is finalised, there will be no problem in shifting the headquarters. On the issue of setting up a second bench, the Odisha government has recommended establishment of the bench at any place in west Odisha. Now it's the responsibility of the Centre to enact a bill and pass it in Parliament to facilitate setting up of the bench. Neither the UPA not the NDA has taken any steps in this regard.