Congress demands white paper on Sardar Sarovar settlement, accuses Madhya Pradesh CM of bypassing cabinet

The Congress has demanded a white paper on the Sardar Sarovar Project settlement, accusing MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav of bypassing the Cabinet. While the opposition questions the deal's transparency, the BJP claims it slashes the state's liabilities

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari on Thursday demanded a White Paper on the Sardar Sarovar Project settlement, questioning the basis of the financial agreement reached with Gujarat and accusing Chief Minister Mohan Yadav of taking a major decision without consulting the Cabinet, the Opposition or other stakeholders.

Addressing a press conference at the party office in Bhopal on Thursday, Patwari said the government should make public all details of the agreement reached during the recent meeting in New Delhi, including the proposals put forward by the Centre, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

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“The Chief Minister must explain how the earlier liability of around Rs 1,500 crore payable to Gujarat was calculated and how it has now been reduced. The details of the discussions held in Delhi should be placed in the public domain through a White Paper,” Patwari said.

He also questioned the government’s claim that Madhya Pradesh would save more than Rs 1,200 crore under the revised arrangement. Patwari alleged that the Chief Minister had decided without consulting the state Cabinet, the Opposition, organisations working for displaced families or environmental experts.

He also accused the BJP government of avoiding questions on financial matters. “The Chief Minister lacks the mindset and capability to address the state’s key issues. Instead of answering the Opposition’s questions on borrowings and expenditure, the government continues to attack its critics,” he said.

The Congress has been demanding details of the state’s borrowings and expenditure and has repeatedly sought a White Paper from the government, Patwari added.

However, the BJP government has already stated on this issue on Wednesday, stating that the agreement would significantly reduce the state’s financial burden and help resolve a nearly three-decade-old dispute over rehabilitation and resettlement expenses under the Sardar Sarovar Project.

In an official statement, the government quoted Chief Minister Mohan Yadav as saying, “A significant milestone has been achieved in strengthening water security and cooperative federalism. The consensus reached on the rehabilitation and resettlement expenses of the Sardar Sarovar Project will significantly reduce Madhya Pradesh’s financial burden.”

The government said the agreement was reached at a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

According to the state government, Madhya Pradesh’s share of rehabilitation expenses has been reduced from 31.98 per cent to 16.17 per cent following the consensus. It said the state’s liability has come down from around Rs 1,500 crore to Rs 231.80 crore, while Gujarat’s share has been increased to 75 per cent.

The government also said the settlement would end a long-pending inter-state dispute and strengthen cooperative federalism. The issue has now triggered a political confrontation in the state, with the Congress questioning the transparency of the settlement and the BJP government maintaining that the agreement is in Madhya Pradesh’s financial interest.