Bhubaneswar: Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh's claim that they had natural right to use more Mahanadi water as the major part of the river's catchment area fell in his state has become a key ammunition in the hands of the BJD to target the BJP.

To add to the BJP's discomfiture, the BJD has been hitting the streets for the last three days to protest the rise in petroleum prices.

On Wednesday, BJD workers burnt the effigy of Singh and alleged that his statement that no one could stop Chhattisgarh from using Mahanadi water had the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Mahanadi is no one's personal property. As river water is a national asset, individual states cannot stake sole claim on it," said BJD vice-president Prasanna Acharya.

Talking to reporters, Acharya said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi had misled the entire state on the issue of the Mahanadi, particularly on the constitution of a tribunal to adjudicate the dispute. Taking a cue from Modi's stand, Raman Singh has dared to say that no one could stop them for using more and more water. It is against the federal spirit of the Constitution and against the interests of the state. It violates all the rules and regulations of inter-state water mechanism. This reflects his audacity." He, however, described Singh's arguments as irrational.

Acharya said: "No one should forget that inter-state rivers are national assets and no single state should seek full right over it. Even there is a Supreme Court direction in this regard. Singh has tried to violate the law of the land."

BJD president Debi Prasad Mishra said: "Odisha has been a victim of a big conspiracy. Chhattisgarh is neither following the directive of Central Water Commission (CWC) nor that of National Green Tribunal (NGT)."

However, the BJP has hit back at the BJD.

"The Prime Minister has raised a serious issue related to the Mahanadi. What was the chief minister doing for the last 18 years? The Naveen Patnaik government needs to answer why it has failed to construct a single barrage on the river," said party leader Pitambara Acharya.

He said: "When poll comes, they remember the Mahanadi. Only by organising Kalas Yatra, the issue cannot be resolved. More barrages should have been constructed to use the water of the river."

The newly formed Mahanadi Tribunal has issued notice to five states, including Odisha, to send the names of their representatives by August 6 to start hearing on the issue.

Led by its convener Sudarshan Das, the Mahanadi Bacchao Andolan on Wednesday organised a road blockade at Lakhanpur on the border of Odisha and Chhattisgarh to demand opening of the gates of the Kalma barrage.

"They should immediately open the gates otherwise, the Mahanadi would turn dry," said Das.

Joining the issue, Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati said: "A dialogue between Odisha and Chhattisgarh should start to resolve the Mahanadi water dispute."