Chhattisgarh has reduced Mahanadi water flow: Pradhan
Bhubaneswar, June 10: Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday admitted that Chhattisgarh has reduced the downstream flow of water in the Mahanadi, due to which Odisha is not getting the required river water during non-monsoon months.
Pradhan said that the water flow into the Mahanadi's lower catchment area has been affected due to the construction of barrages in the upper catchment areas in Chhattisgarh.
The Minister was addressing a press conference in Sambalpur on the completion of four years of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government.
He said that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should take steps to put pressure on the Chhattisgarh government to release water to Odisha.
"There is a need to put pressure on the Chhattisgarh government and I request the Odisha Chief Minister to take steps in this regard. I personally support the cause and the Centre will always help in resolving the issue," said Pradhan.
He said no provision has been made by the state government to store water in lower catchment areas of Hirakud reservoir, as a result of which the water is flowing into the sea.
On the other hand, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) said that the central government should put pressure on the Chhattisgarh government to release water for the benefit of the Odisha people.
"The Union Minister was forced to admit this not due to his conscience but due to people's mandate in Odisha," said BJD Rajya Sabha MP Prasanna Acharya.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Niranjan Patnaik said: "This indicates what the Congress and every Odia have been saying all along. The BJP shamelessly snatched Odisha's share of the Mahanadi and the BJD helped them in doing so by silently supporting the loot. This has been happening since the BJD and BJP joined hands for power in Odisha."
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Adityanath govt has completely failed to maintain Taj Mahal, alleges Akhilesh
Lucknow (PTI): Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday raised questions over maintenance of the Taj Mahal in Agra and attacked the Yogi Adityanath government saying it should be a "living and active" example, not just a "monument".
Yadav, who shared a viral video in which a plant could be seen sprouting from the dome of the Taj Mahal, said the monument might develop cracks due to the roots.
In a post on X, he said, "The BJP government and its dormant departments have completely failed to maintain the Taj Mahal, the wonder that attracts tourists from all over the world."
Yadav went on to say, "There is a possibility of rusting of the metal of the urn on the main dome. Water is dripping from the main dome. There is news of plants growing in the dome. If the roots of trees like these grow, then the Taj Mahal may crack."
He also highlighted problems of monkey menace and water logging in the Taj Mahal complex.
"The Taj Mahal complex has become a sanctuary for monkeys. There is a problem of waterlogging in the Taj Mahal complex. The tourists are worried whether they should admire the Taj Mahal or deal with the problems," Yadav said, adding due to all these reasons, the country's image is tarnished at the global level.
Last week, the main dome of the Taj witnessed water seepage due to incessant rains but officials said there was no damage to the arched roof.
Yadav asked where crores of rupees of funds that come for the maintenance of Taj Mahal are going.
"The government should be a living and active example, not just a monument," he added.
