Bhubaneswar:A House Committee led by the Assembly Speaker and comprising leaders from all political parties will be constituted to chalk out a strategy to protect the State’s interests in Mahanadi matter. This was declared by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
A day after the Union Government denied forming a Tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi water sharing dispute between Odisha and Chhatisgarh, the Odisha Assembly on Thursday witnessed strong protests by the ruling BJD members forcing adjournments of the House thrice till 6 pm.
The stalemate was over only after an all-party meeting held under Chairmanship of Speaker Pradeep Kumar Amat and attended by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh, BJP Legislature Party Leader KV Singh Deo and others, resolved to form a House Committee to take the next course of action.
“A House Committee led by the Assembly Speaker and comprising leaders from all political parties will be constituted to chalk out a strategy to protect the State’s interests in Mahanadi matter,” said the Chief Minister after attending the meeting.
Earlier, when the House met at 10.30 am, the BJD members stood at their seats and protested the Centre’s denial to form a Tribunal, shouting slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Government.
Within no moment, the Congress and the BJP members rushed into the Well of the House and shouted slogans in favour of their respective pleas.
While the BJP members criticised the State Government for not giving sufficient data required for formation of a Tribunal, the Congress members alleged that both the Union and the State Government are responsible for the Mahanadi problem. Amid sloganeering, Speaker Amat adjourned the House at 10.32 am till 3 pm.
When the House reassembled, ruling Chief Whip Amar Prasad Satpathy and BJD member Mahesh Sahu demanded that an all-party meeting be convened by the Speaker over the issue. As the Speaker avoided them, the ruling members started shouting slogans again. Then, the Speaker adjourned the House for 30 minutes till 3.33 pm and again till 6 pm.
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