Mahanadi Peace Initiative Update: Mahanadi needs both Chief Ministers to Talk immediately!
Ranjan Panda
Mahanadi Peace Initiative Update: 5th August 2016
Let Chief Ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh enter into a
cordial dialogue immediately and reognise Mahanadi’s Right to Life
· ‘Mahanadi Peace Initiative’ campaign’s Coordination cum Strategy Meeting demands that both Odisha and Chhattisgarh treat Mahanadi as an ecological entity and plan all developments keeping in mind the ecological carrying capacity of the river.
· Mindless planning of water extraction will increase drought, farmer suicides, aggravate flood devastations and increase disasters in the Bay of Bengal.
· Let both the state governments prepare a joint plan to meet irrigation demands to drought proof the river basin; provide clean drinking water to the entire basin population including livestock and wildlife.
· Mahanadi’s health is at a critical low and the need of the time is River Rejuvination. Assessing the impacts of coal fired power plants and arresting pollution be part of a joint dialogue between the states.
Sambalpur, 5th August 2016 – The ‘Mahanadi Peace Initiative’ that was initiated by Mahanadi River Waterkeeper, Odisha and Nadi Ghati Morcha, Chhatisgarh had its Campaign Coordination cum Strategy meeting at Sambalpur today. It was participated by 35 people from both the states and decided a plan of action to build peace in the Mahanadi River Basin which is now witnessing a bitter fight between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
“This is first of its kind initiative in the entire nation in which we are trying to build a voluntary citizen driven drive to connect the basin communities with each other to advocate with the state governments for a dialogue to solve interstate river water dispute, informed Ranjan Panda, Mahanadi River Waterkeeper, who is convening this initiative. “This conflict has virtually started in public space after our press release a month ago in which we had quoted details from a letter from the water resources department secretary of govt. of Odisha to the engineer-in-chief of the same state. This letter brought to the fact that the Odisha governmnet was worried about construction of dams and barrages upstream Mahanadi by Chhattisgarh without consent from this state that would obstruct the river’s flow to a great extent,” he said.
The conflict has now worsened and an atmosphere of enemity has been built between both the states. We want this enemity to go and a cordial atmosphere be built so that real issues of Mahanadi are discussed. We demand that both the Chief Ministers meet at the earliest and discuss all issues facing Mahanadi, its people and ecology,” urged Panda.
Veteran political leader and ex-finance minister of Odisha Panchanan Kanungo emphasized that the Mahanadi Peace Initiative should work to recognize ‘Right to Water’ of the people of the basin. “Both the states have misused water of Mahanadi to favour extractive industries. The states need industries but not at the cost of irrigation and farmers. The initiative will work towards advocating for this,” said Kanungo extending his support for the Peace Initiative.
Saroj, a leader of the Paschim Odisha Krushak Suraksha Sangathan (POKSS), said, “industrial civilization of Mahanadi is in direct war with ecological civilization of the basin. States are competing to invite industries and have forgotten their irrigation promises.” “The Mahanadi Peace Initiative will work to restore ecological civilization of the basin, connect people to the river and work towards drought proofing the basin area,” he suggested.
Lalit Mohan Patnaik of Odisha Nagarika Samaj(ONS) highlighted about the information gaps in submissions being made by both the state governments. “Both the governments are putting up water flow and balance analysis based on old and fragmented data in order to pursue privatisation of the river water. Mahanadi and most of its tributaries are in severe water stress now,” he said, adding, “now that an opportunity has arisen to discuss about the river, the states should come transparent with all information and lay before the public.”
“Coal fired power plants will kill the Mahanadi river. There is no need for Odisha and Chhattisgarh to become power hubs with coal energy at the cost of the river. The states should go for alternative energy sources,” said Gautam Bandopadhyay, Convenor of Nadi Ghati Morcha, which is spearheading the Peace Initiative in Chhattisgarh. “Both the states should prepare a joint plan to meet irrigation demands to drought proof the river basin; provide clean drinking water to the entire basin population including livestock and wildlife, added he.
Murari Purohit of the POKSS said that the states must first recognize the fact that pollution level have gone too high in the basin and the states are not able to provide us clean drinking water. “Mahanadi’s health is at a critical low and the need of the time is River Rejuvination. Putting a halt on coal fired power plants and arresting pollution be part of a joint dialogue between the states”, he suggested.
Gourishyam Panda of Sonepur chaired the meeting and urged upon all civil society members, ecologists, water experts and common people to join the Mahanadi Peace Initiative in both the states.
Ghasiram from Bhubaneswar facilitated the strategy building session and emphasised on the ‘Right to Water’ of common people. “The River has a right to life and we must work towards helping it stay alive,” he said.
The initiative has decided an action plan that includes publication of factsheets on key sectors that are already impacted by a deficit Mahanadi river basin, public consultations, a jatha from origin of the river to where it merges with Bay of Bengal, a national level initiative to discuss River Policy issues and many other such programmes that will involve common people of both the states and engage with policy makers and others.
“The Mahanadi Peace Initiative has already got endorsement of about 150 individuals from both the states and other states of India plus some from abroad as well. We will now work towards bringing the real issues of the river Mahanadi and ensure its health and well being,” informed Ranjan Panda.
“Many participants came up with the idea of pushing for a River Management Policy. We will study that proposal and consult subject/legal experts and then initiate suitable actions. At the moment, we will urge upon both the governments to discuss about a Mahanadi Basin Governance Plan on mutually agreed upon terms and conditions. Mahanadi is already a water deficit basin and facing serious challenges. Mindless planning of water extraction will increase drought, farmer suicides, aggravate flood devastations and increase disasters in the Bay of Bengal, said he further.
The meeting ended with Bhumisuta giving away the vote of thanks. Earlier in beginning Prafulla Hota welcomed all and the meeting started with a prayer in memory of Dr. Dillip Kumar Padhi, a lead volunteer of Mahanadi River Waterkeeper who took his heavenly abode a few months ago. Mr. Prafulla Hota, another frontline volunteer of Mahanadi River Waterkeeper was felicitated for having been nominated to a Central Committee on Social Security.
Friends: We thank all volunteers, especially Jagdish, Gajindra and Ranjita for making all the logistics and coordination.
This is just a quick update. A detailed note will be shared as soon as we are ready with it.
Thanks for all your support and cooperation. We wish the same in future as well.
For further information, please contact:
Ranjan Panda
Mahanadi River Waterkeeper
Email: ranja...@gmail.com, wateri...@gmail.com
Cell: +91-9437050103
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Ranjan Panda, popularly known as the ‘Water Man of Odisha’ has been championing the cause of water conservation and management for more than 25 Years now. He has been designated in 2013 as ‘Mahanadi River Waterkeeper’ by New York based global Waterkeeper Alliance for his constant endeavours towards conservation of river Mahanadi. He also convenes the Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO), the leading network of organisations and individuals working for more than two decades in the state of Odisha on water, environment and climate change.
Mahanadi River Waterkeeper organisation works to conserve Mahanadi River’s ecosystem so that all communities and other species dependent on it have access to clean water for today and forever in a sustainable manner. It is based at the Water Initiatives OdishaMahanadi River Waterkeeper is member of the global Waterkeeper Alliance based out of New York!
“Mahanadi River Basin Peace Building Initiative” has been started on 21st July 2016 between ‘Mahanadi River Waterkeeper’ and ‘Nadi Ghati Morcha (Raipur)’ to initiate a citizen driven initiative to resolve Inter-State Water Conflict over Mahanadi.