BERHAMPUR: A
PIL was filed in the High Court regarding in delay in construction of projects
on Mahendratanaya river in Gajapati district even after four years of
foundation stone laying ceremony. This PIL was filed by social activist Srikant
Padhi, the convenor of ‘Mahendratanaya Bachao Andolan (MBA)’ an organisation
that had been a major catalyst behind the decision of the State government to
propose construction of irrigation projects on Mahendratanaya river. Mr. Padhi
said he was compelled to approach court of law as even after four years of
foundation stone laying ceremony the State government had not started
groundwork of this much publicised project on Mahendratanaya river in Gajapati
district. Few years ago this irrigation project proposed by the State
government was talk of the State as it was a retaliatory action of the State
government against Andhra government’s decision to take up project on the same
river.
On
April 4, 2008 the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh had laid the foundation
for its proposed project on Mahendratanaya river at Regulapadu in Srikakulam
district. As per Odisha government Andhra government had had violated the 1962
inter-State agreement by taking up this project on Mahendratanaya river without
consulting Odisha. There were also protests against Andhra project on the river
in south Odisha with fear that it would affect flow of water in the stretch of
river passing through Odisha. Mahendratanaya is a tributary of Bansadhara
river. It originates from a place near Tuparasingi village in Gajapati
district, and flows through Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. A large portion of its
river bed is in Gajapati and Rayagada districts of Odisha.
The
State government had come out with retaliatory projects on Mahendratanaya to
counter project of Andhra Pradesh on the downstream of the river. On April 30,
2008 at Dambapur in Gajapti district, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid
foundation stone for the proposed projects on Mahendratanaya river. At the time
of stone laying ceremony it was claimed that project would be completed within
two years. Two barrages were to be constructed on the river near Dambapur and
Champapur villages of Gajapati district. Location of these proposed barrages
was at a distance of around 40 kilometres from Andhra Pradesh border. The
initial proposed cost of construction of these two barrages was Rs. 38 crore.
After their construction in two years they were to irrigate 3,050 hectares of
land. Apart from it these barrages were also to provide water to Paralakhemundi
town in Gajapati district.
The
petitioner Mr. Padhi alleged that Odisha government had failed to keep up its
promise. According to him the State government had also not deputed sufficient
number of staff to expedite groundwork of the project. Tenders for construction
of these two barrages were called twice. No major construction company showed
interest in them. A construction firm has taken up the Dambapur barrage project
but the same company has not shown interest in the other barrage, he said. He
suggested that if Maoist menace is a stumbling block for the project then the
project could be handed over to Military Engineering Service. Through his PIL
Mr. Padhi had pleaded before the High Court to direct State government to speed
up construction of the project through allocation of sufficient funds and
adequate staff.
Source: The Hindu
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