Puri: Fresh silt deposition at the mouth of river Mangala here has caused worry for the officials of the district water resources department.
The state government had already spent Rs 50 lakh to remove siltation from the estuary of river Mangala last year.
According to sources, the water resources department will start desilting the estuary in June. “We have decided to dig up the river mouth in the first week of June. The early arrival of monsoon is likely to hinder the process,” said a water resources department official.
Mangala, a distributary of river Bhargavi, had suddenly changed its course in August last year due to heavy silt deposition at its mouth. Subsequently, tidal ingress had eroded several feet at Swargadwar beach. Experts had then advised the state government to desilt Mangala estuary to prevent tidal ingress, sources said.
Taking the issue seriously, the water resources department had engaged the Orissa Construction Company to remove silt from the river mouth. The state government had spent Rs 50 lakh on the project.
“Deposition of sand at Mangala estuary is preventing water flow into the sea. The river may change its course in the rainy season if steps are not taken to desilt the river mouth,” said a local.
Water resources department executive engineer Artatrana Sahu said they have invited tenders to dredge silt from Mangala estuary. “The desilting work will start by June 10,” Sahu said.
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