Odisha News Times News Of Odisha For Odisha
Bhubaneswar:8/9/17; A delegation comprising of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLAs today submitted a memorandum to Odisha Governor Dr SC Jamir on Mahanadi water sharing dispute, MSP hike for paddy and Special Category state status for Odisha.
“Mahanadi is the lifeline of Odisha, 65 percent of the state’s population living in 16 districts depend on Mahanadi River for life, living and livelihoods. Even though the state government had apprised the Chhattisgarh government over the building threat on its ecology and bio diversity, the Chhattishgarh has constructed several projects on the river upstream and its tributaries thereby violating the technical and environmental aspects”, the memorandum read.
The BJD delegation also reiterated its longstanding demand for special category state status for Odisha.
On the special status issue, the memorandum read, “Demand for special status category status for Odisha is quite old and a longstanding demand made for the first time way back in 1979 in the National Development Council Meeting. This was reiterated several times and unanimous resolutions have been adopted in the state assembly. But the genuine developmental requirements of the state have long been ignored by successive union governments”.
The State ruling party also urged the Governor for fixing up the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Paddy at Rs 2930 per quintal.
