Sambalpur: Battle lines have been drawn between Orissa and Chhattisgarh (CG) over the latter’s ambitious projects on the upper catchment area of Mahanadi.
The neighbouring state has not only conspired to break the rice bowl of Orissa, it wants to stop power production in Hirakud dam, experts said.
While the proposed projects would adversely hit 1, 90,841 hectares of farm land in Sambalpur, Bargarh, Subarnapur and Bolangir districts, 18 major industrial units in Sambalpur and Jharsuguda districts would be badly hit by the projects, a report said.
Though people here blame the state government over the issue, the government holds Centre responsible for the difficulties it would face ahead.
The state government wrote a letter to its neighbour July 5 seeking details of the proposed projects but the latter is yet to respond.
The Chhattisgarh government had planned to set up a project on the upper catchment area of Mahanadi about a decade back which was strongly opposed by western Orissa farmers. However, Chhattisgarh managed to go ahead with the plan and it is in its last leg of completion.
Chhattisgarh government has clearly overstepped its authority since it has no right to begin the project without the consent of the Central Water Commission and Orissa government. The state government has a lot to worry since about 1.90 lakh hectares of farmland in western Orissa districts would be deprived of irrigation once the projects get commissioned. A large number of farmers are set to stage protest to protect their livelihood.
Amarkantak to Hirakud: Though Mahanadi is considered the biggest river of Orissa, it originates in Amarkantak of Chhattisgarh and reaches Hirakud dam after passing through Sourinaryaj, Horari and Saradhi of Chhattisgarh. The neighbouring government has sped up the project work on the upper catchment areas which come under their jurisdiction. The major project works undertaken by them included a project at Saradhi which is just 96 km from Hirakud dam, Mahanadi Water State Link Project and Tandrula Reservoir Accommodation Scheme.
Though Hirakud dam won’t be affected by Chhattisgarh barrage projects during rainy season, lakhs of hectares of agricultural land in four districts would remain without irrigation in summer.
According to reports, Hirakud dam receives 24 million acre -feet (MAF) of water from Mahanadi in rainy season. While about 3.91 MAF water is absorbed by the dam, the remaining 20 MAF water is released. Similarly, the dam receives 1.2 MAF water in summer.
On the other hand, Burla power house requires 1.9 MAF of water in summer for power generation while the dam releases 1.3 MAF for rabi crops in four western Orissa districts. This apart 0.3 MAF of water is supplied to 18 industrial units including Vedanta, Bhusan and Adiya Aluminium during summer season.
Agriculture, electricity and industry sectors are likely to be worst hit if Chhattisgarh goes ahead with its proposals, sources said.
When contacted, Hirakud dam’s chief engineer Biswajit Mohanty said the Chhattisgarh projects won’t affect the power generation in rainy season but they are a major cause of worry in summer. It can affect the economy of the state in a great way, Mohanty apprehended. The state government should immediately enter an agreement with Chhattisgarh to get adequate water in time of need, he further said.
The proposed projects would definitely affect the livelihood of thousands of farmers and everyone should strongly oppose it cutting across party line, Umesh Chandra Mishra, vice-president of Zilla Krushak Surakhya Sangathan, a farmers’ outfit of Sambalpur said. PNN
