The Mahanadi, one of the longest rivers flowing through Orissa, has once again occupied the centrestage in Orissa politics.
Diversion of the river water for industrial use and the proposal to build three hydro-power projects down the Hirakud reservoir have become hot issues with the Opposition that is planning protest rallies on the two issues.
Mahanadi Bachao Andolan, a common platform of political leaders and social activists, has called for a massive agitation at Cuttack on Monday.
The forum has been objecting supply of Mahanadi water to various industrial units, including the controversial Posco project.
The recent agreement between the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) and Orissa Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) to construct three barrages over Mahanadi in the districts of Sambalpur, Sonepur and Boudh is snowballing into a major controversy.
The Congress, the main Opposition in the Orissa Legislative Assembly, has already declared to oppose the projects saying that they would cause massive displacement of the local people.
A few legislators of the ruling BJD have also been resisting the hydro projects.
Called Sindol-I, Sindol-II and Sindol-III, the three proposed hydro projects would produce 320 MW power by utilising surplus water of Hirakud reservoir.
Apart from the Congress, Sambalpur Lawyers Association and a number of civil society organisations, on Sunday threatened economic blockade in western Orissa if the government did not withdraw its Sindol projects decisions.
The Opposition had raised the Mahanadi issue two years ago.
The issue was pushed to the backburner after the ruling BJD was caught in some major mining scams and massive irregularities in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
Meanwhile, bowing to public pressure, the Orissa government has decided to conduct public hearings before launching the `2,600 crores Sindol hydro power projects.
“Public hearings will be held at three sites where barrages are proposed to be built. We will take views of the local people before going ahead with the project,” state energy minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said.
He added that state government would ensure that the locals get the optimum benefit out of the project.
The state government had been claiming that no one would be displaced or no agricultural land be submerged due to Sindol project.
However, the locals do not trust the government and have come out openly against the project.