Following is an excerpt from a report on Pioneer on this.

Leader of the opposition JB Patnaik on Thursday came out with an alternative proposal on how to provide water to Posco’s proposed steel plant at Paradip without compromising the interest of farmers.

Addressing a Press conference, Patnaik said a dam could be built on the lower Mahanadi basin near Ersama to provide water to Posco’s plant at Paradip. Ersama is only 30 to 35 km from Ersama and it would not be difficult for Posco to take water from this place.

Patnaik has also come out with another proposal on how to meet the demands of the water requirement of the other industries. As per Patnaik, a barrage should be built on the IB River, on the upper basin of Mahanadi. He further said that a proper assessment should be made on the water requirements of the industries.