Bhubaneswar, Dec. 13 -- The long-standing Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh took a major political turn on Saturday, with senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Prasanna Acharya alleging a 'conspiracy to kill the Mahanadi'.

While talking to reporters, Acharya accused the current Odisha government of inaction despite repeated constructions of barrages by neighbouring Chhattisgarh. The allegation triggered a strong political rebuttal from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which questioned the BJD's record during its 24-year rule in the state.

Prasanna Acharya alleged that the Chhattisgarh government has been constructing barrages on the river one after another without seeking permission or giving intimation to the...