india

Updated: Dec 20, 2017 23:16 IST

Furious over the Mahanadi barrage row, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in Odisha has alleged that the NDA government was not being neutral in its dealings with states.

The BJD is angry about the Centre telling the Supreme Court that it will not constitute a tribunal – as demanded by the Odisha government – to settle a dispute over the construction of an artificial barrier on the Mahanadi river by the Chhattisgarh government.

“The Union government is supposed to be neutral when a water-sharing dispute arises between two states, but the neutrality of this government has been compromised,” said BJD floor leader Bhartruhari Mahtab in the Lok Sabha.

Even as the treasury bench protested against the allegation, the BJD maintained that the construction of the barrage was not a state but national issue. The BJD accused the government of promising the creation of a tribunal in Parliament but later telling the Supreme Court that there was no need for one.

The Trinamool Congress supported Mahtab’s demand that a discussion be taken up under the adjournment motion.