The Mahanadi Bachao Andolan activists on Tuesday launched a signature campaign and padayatra from Lingaraj Temple here protesting against the delay in issuance of terms of reference for the Mahanadi Tribunal and ongoing construction of barrages upstream of the river by Chhattisgarh government.

Several political parties including the ruling BJD, Congress and others supported the move by the Andolan. We will travel along the banks of the river touching 15 districts of the state collecting signatures to a petition that is to be submitted to the Chief Justice of India, said Sudarsan Das, leader of the Andolan.

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The activists intend to reach Kalma barrage in Chhattisgarh as part of their protest march. The Chhattisgarh government has impeded flow of water to Odisha and Kalma barrage gates have been closed.

There has been a 40 per cent shortfall in non-monsoon flow adversely impacting rabi crop cultivation and power generation alleged the BJD leaders.

Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik said the BJP led Chhattisgarh government was getting all out support from the centre.

Significantly BJP leader and former irrigation minister Bijay Mahapatra too conceded that there has been a delay in forming the terms of reference for the dispute Tribunal.