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‘Publicity gimmick’

BHUBANESWAR: Former Chief Minister and leader of Opposition J. B Patnaik on Wednesday ridiculed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s foundation laying programme for two irrigation projects on Mahendratanaya River in Gajapati district and its tributary Jalanga River.

The two projects proposed by Naveen Patnaik Government were just a publicity gimmick while the projects would not solve the problem, the senior Congress leader said here addressing a press conference.

Pointing out that Centre had already approved two projects on Vamsadhara and Mahendratanaya rivers long ago, the former Chief Minister said the project at the confluence of Vamsadhara and Chauladhua river would help irrigate about 1.5 lakh acre of land in the catchments of River Rushikulya.

The project would also eradicate water scarcity problem being faced by Berhampur, Chhatrapur and Gopalpur, he said, adding that though the present government assured the State Assembly to start the project, no work had been initiated.

Similarly, Mahendratanaya Project at Kaithapadar got approval of Centre in 2002 and it would have helped 20,000 acres of land but the Naveen Patnaik Government failed to start the project, the Leader of Opposition charged.

The former Chief Minister said the State Government must not waste time but prepare plan for optimum use of water of Vamsadhara as well as Mahendratanaya river, otherwise it would lose its claim over the water.

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