Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday advocated linking of the Mahanadi river with Rushikulya .

He said the link will enable creation of irrigation potential in several districts of the State.

The linking of the two major rivers will enable creation of irrigation potential in Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts and mitigate the nagging problem of drinking water scarcity in Brahmapur town,” the Union Minister said.

Pradhan was addressing a meeting on the occasion of some of the Congress and CPI leaders joining the BJP.

The waters of Mahanadi go waste, he said adding, “It can be utilized by linking these two rivers, which will benefit the people of the southern part of the State.” Pradhan criticized the State Government saying that it had failed to create irrigation facilities in the three districts during its 17-year rule.

The Government has also “failed miserably” to solve the drinking water problem of Brahmapur town, he stated.

Welcoming the Congress and CPI leaders to the BJP, Pradhan said now people of the State want a change in the State Government.

“They have faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his people-oriented policies,” he said.

Among others, Manoranjan Dyansamantra, son of former Speaker and senior Congress leader Chintamani  Dyansamantara, Congress leader Pradeep Satapathy and senior journalist Rabi Rath joined the BJP in Pradhan’s presence.

Dyansamantra had unsuccessfully contested the Assembly election in 2014 and had resigned from Congress after the panchayat poll earlier this year.