Opposition Congress proposed to convene an all-party meeting in Odisha to discuss the construction of irrigation projects.

2. Opposition Congress proposed to
convene an all-party meeting in Odisha
to discuss the construction of irrigation
projects coming up in the upstream of
river Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh, which
they fear might harm the interests of
their state.

3. "I propose to call a meeting of
representatives of all political parties
of the state to discuss and take
appropriate steps on the Mahanadi
issue," Leader of Opposition
Narasingha Mishra of Congress wrote
to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

4. The letter was written before they
start their visit this evening to places
where irrigation projects are coming
up in the upstream of river Mahanadi
in Chhattisgarh.

5. Earlier on July 7, Mr. Mishra had
written a letter to Patnaik requesting
him to convene an all-party meeting to
discuss the matter.

6. Congress called a meeting after Mr.
Mishra's letter to the CM went un
responded by then state government.

7. Former Union Minister and senior
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had
yesterday said "Congress demands that
Naveen Patnaik take an all-party-
delegation to Delhi. Along with the leaders
of all political parties, the Chief Minister
should meet the Prime Minister and
apprise him of the Mahanadi matter."

8. Meanwhile, the ruling BJD also
announced to send a high level
delegation to Chhattisgarh to collect
information about the number of
barrages and dams built on the upper
catchments of Mahanadi and other
projects which are in the pipeline.

9. BJD Spokesperson Sashi Bhusan
Behera said the delegation would be
led by Rajya Sabha MP Prasanna
Acharya.

10. "The delegation, after its return to the
state, will prepare a comprehensive
report and submit to the Central
Water Commission (CWC)," he said.

11. Meanwhile a Raipur report said, the
Chhattisgarh Janata Congress led by
former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, has
threatened to oppose the Odisha
Congress delegation