By Anurjay Dhal
BHUBANESWAR: The ongoing dirty politics over the River Kharasrota, a tributary of mighty Brahamni River, connecting Aul, Rajkanika and Binjharpur bocks of Kendrapara and Jajpur , following the nod of the Naveen Patnaik led BJD Government to a Mega Drinking Water Project worth Rs 892 Crore for drinking water supply to Bhadrak district, facing Baitarani, Salandi ,Mantei and Kansabansa Rivers, may likely to hit a dream project of Chief Minister Patnaik as well as sitting BJD Aul’s 4th times MLA and former Minister , Pratap Keshari Deb, who are trying their best to implement yet another big project worth Rs 268.11 Crore for Kendrapara’s Aul-Kanika, tender for which has already been called for and last date for submission bidding slated for October 30. The project will be implemented in 24 months of times, as per the tender document.
Officials manning the Jal ‘O’ Parimal Bhawan here in State Capital, which houses the office of Engineer-in-Chief , RWSS, however maintained that both project are intended for welfare of people of Kendrapara and Bhadrak and all apprehensions have been addressed properly before execution of these mega drinking water projects. They also said that national level bidders have been invited for the project. The www.indianewsdiary.com has sent a missive to Engineer-in-Chief, RWSS, Abhaya Kumar Biswal for his reaction as Biswal was busy with some official work, he will later briefed about the project for Aul-Rajkanika as he replied to the missve.
“The project worth Rs 892 Crore for Bhadrak district, aimed to supply drinking water to 91 Panchayats, even though under scanner of National Green Tribunal (NGT) Scanner while no trouble for Rs 268.11 Crore project for Aul and Rajkanika blocks but if such dirty politics going on, it may also hit the project,” sources said. The Engineer-in-Chief , RWSS(Water Supply), has already invited national competitive bidding for 2 rural piped water supply project for Aul and Rajkanika with an investment cost of Rs 268.11 Crore, they added and last date for submission of bidding slated for October 30, they argued.
Local farmers in some 60 Panchayats of Rajkanika and Aul have been protesting over water lifting from River Kharasrota for Bhadrak district and they feared their agricultural activities will hit due to shortage of water. The farmers agitation more or less been carried by local Congress and BJP leaders. “River Kharasrota is our lifeline and any attempt to loot water from here to serve in other areas will be dealt with democratic protest,” farmers had said.
Local farmers are arguing that while preparing the project, the State Government had skipped rivers Baitarani, Salandi, Mantei and Kansabansa which are major rivers in the State and instead preferred to extract water from Kharasrota, the smallest river in the State.
“This clearly overlooked the fact that the project could adversely impact the people of Rajakanika and Aul blocks in the Kendrapara district who are dependent upon their drinking and agricultural requirements from river Kharasrota” a NGT order had said. The project would also adversely affect the entire Bhitarakanika National Park as it is dependent for its survival on this river which is the only source of fresh water as the other rivers are saline in nature.
