Both the Odisha and Chhattisgarh governments are in confrontation mode over the sharing of Mahanadi river water. How is it going to affect Odisha at this moment?

This confrontation could have been avoided. Let me share the history and importance of the Hirakud dam. Renowned engineer M. Visvesvaraya had planned the dam. Later, the project was endorsed by two experts - A.N. Khosla and M.S.T. Iyengar. The dam was an engineering marvel - one of the biggest earthen dams. Both Odisha and Madhya Pradesh had agreed on the project keeping in mind the 83,000 square kilometres of its catchment area.

It was the first multi-purpose project in the 1950s. There was no agreement and it was executed in a spirit of good will. After its existence for nearly 70 years, it is now facing a crisis. The river is the lifeline of Odisha and lakhs of farmers depend on it. If there is obstruction in its flow, there could even be scarcity of drinking water.

Where did things go wrong?

Without consulting the co-basin state, Chhattisgarh has constructed a number of barrages and dams in the Mahanadi upstream. Now, they are also constructing some other structures with plans to build a few more. The Chhattisgarh government cannot say they have done their job by writing letters to the Odisha government or the Central Water Commission (CWC). They should have taken clearance from all agencies, including those in Odisha. The state government should have risen to the occasion earlier.

Now the need of the hour is that the entire master plan should be studied and discussed. As this was not done, the Hirakud dam is bound to face a crisis. The dispute has reached its climax.

What should we do at this moment?

As both the warring parties cannot solve the issue amicably, someone has to intervene. It's either the CWC or the Centre, which has to mediate. After a long gap, the CWC had called a meeting of both of the states. But, it failed to reach a conclusion.

Here I need to mention that the CWC is part of the Hirakud management system. Based on the River Board Act, 1956, several states have formed river boards and water disputes have been resolved. It can be formed in this case also.

There is a view that the river board will not yield desired results...

If a river board fails to reach an amicable solution, the matter may be referred to a river tribunal. It has to be formed by the Supreme Court on the Centre's request. It's ruling is final and binding on both the states.

It's the last resort. Besides, we should form an integrated rule curve (water flow during the year) to regulate the flow of Mahanadi. If this is not done, Odisha will face a great danger in the coming days.

You have taken up the dam issue quite aggressively, while pointing fingers at the Raman Singh's BJP government in Chhattisgarh. Won't it land you in trouble in your own party?

All the projects have not come up during Raman Singh's tenure. It's not a question of fighting with Raman Singh. He is a senior and respected leader of the party. I don't have anything personal against him. This is not a war against Raman Singh. They are at liberty to utilise their share of the Mahanadi water. I have no objection to that. But at the same time, we should protect our interest. We cannot live with a dying Mahanadi and Hirakud.

Union minister of state for petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan had suggested a joint control board to deal with the dispute. But, you rejected the proposal outright. It sends a message that you are not on good terms with Pradhan...

My stand did not mean I oppose Dharmendra Pradhan. I never believe that whatever I say or Pradhan says is sacrosanct. There are many other eminent personalities and experts who can be consulted. Pradhan did not contradict my views.

What I had said is that joint control board is just an advisory body without any authority of law, a toothless body. When I was the irrigation minister in the 1990s during the Biju Patnaik's regime, I had attended the meeting of Subarnarekha river control board and witnessed the functioning of the body. A joint control board will not solve the problem.

There is a public perception that the party is divided into two groups - pro and anti-Dharmendra Pradhan. You have the backing of BJP Legislature Party leader K.V. Singh Deo, former central minister Dilip Ray and others.

On party matters, I will not comment. The party matters have to be dealt only by the party president and the Odisha in-charge.

But, you cannot ignore the public perception. You must be aware of it...

Perception is not always based on the truth. Perception is a perception. There may be difference of opinions on issues. It is there in every party.

Whatever you may say, but people strongly believe that the party is already divided...

People draw lines. In every party, difference of opinion exists. These differences should not be construed as infighting.

You had launched the Save Mahanadi movement in 2012. Why did not you continue the movement and stopped it mid-way?

Because of certain constraints, we were forced to stop it. We had taken up the issue when we noticed that there was no water in a canal near the Jobra annicut on the Mahanadi river. At that time, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) was provided water for its oil refinery project in Paradip. We were very much disturbed with this development.

We had even submitted a memorandum to the government. Had the state government acted at that time on our memorandum, such situation would not have emerged today. The high court took note of our agitation and intervened for a protective embankment around Cuttack city. The IOCL also funded various welfare programmes...

It seems that you are not in favour of giving river water to industries. With this attitude, how can the state get industries?

We have never said that water should not be given to industrial houses. That was not our demand. Small barrages, particularly the submersible barrages, can be built in the downstream. These projects don't cause any displacement.

You will be surprised to know that even Paradip port is going to face water shortage. It is preparing to fund a barrage. The famous Taladanda canal's end point is Paradip. But at this moment, it fails to cater to the needs of industrial houses. So the need of the hour is to go for small barrages. The IOCL and other industrial houses have come up to fund such projects. These small barrages will cost only Rs 100 crore to Rs 150 crore. Why is not the government thinking on these lines?

There is a demand that Manibhadra project should be revived again...

The original plan was to build dams at Tikarpada and Naraja. Later, Manibhadra and Subala projects were added. But as there was public protest on the displacement issue, the then government was not able to execute these projects. But at this point, there is a need for detailed research and survey to build a second dam below the Hirakud.

Besides, the Tel, one of the major tributary of Mahanadi, needs a barrage as it contributes large volume of water to Mahanadi during floods. At the confluence point of Mahanadi and Ib, there is a large patch of land at Matwala in the Hirakud upstream where a barrage can be built to store water.

But do you support the Manibhadra project?

Manibhadra project may be opposed. There are other places where barrages could be built without any displacement. It's a political decision the government has to take in the interest of Hirakud and Mahanadi.

If people accept the Manibhadra project, I have no problem. But people's interest should be given priority.

The all-party meeting convened by Opposition leader and Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra, to which you were a party, seems to have lost its significance after the Congress called a strike on the Mahanadi issue...

For the first time, leaving all their ideological differences, all political parties without the BJD have united. The Congress should not have called this bandh. By doing this, they have diluted the Mahanadi issue. From the beginning, we have maintained that all should rise above party politics to fight for state's interest. The all-party panel has already formed a committee consisting of non-political persons, who will give a new direction to our movement to save Mahanadi.

Even Congress leader and former Union minister Srikanta Jena said the all-party meeting had no meaning at all...

This reflects rivalry within the Congress. But we should not be influenced by that. Otherwise, our purpose will be defeated.

The BJP has started idolising local heroes of Odisha. Considering that the state is being ruled by a strong regional party (the BJD), people think the BJP strategy will not succeed...

That is true, but only to some extent. In Odisha's political scenario, there is a three-cornered contest. On one side there is the BJP, then there is a strong anti-Congress regional party called the BJD and then there is the Congress. We have lost two elections. My view is that we should introspect. We must learn lessons from the last two elections. If we don't learn, things are going to be much more difficult for us.

But the BJP is now taking up this programme seriously in the state, as it has been successful in Assam using the same strategy...

This is an all-India programme, it has got nothing to do with politics. The scenario in Assam was different. The proposition was different. The BJP had an alliance there. When we were in the alliance, we had also won here.