Bhubaneswar: The Daya West Canal has turned into a dying water body, thanks to the apathy of the Water Resources department. The 34 km-long canal, that originates from Barang and flows to Rathipur in Jatni Assembly constituency, has turned into an abandoned water body in recent years due to lack of proper maintenance.
Sources said the department has failed to refurbish the Daya West Canal despite holding several meetings for the purpose since 2005.
Without introducing any measure to renovate the canal, the Water Resources department, however, has spent `78 lakh to remove hyacinth from the water body in last three years, sources said.
It is learnt that the Water Resources department had convened a high-level meeting at the state Secretariat in April 2005 to deliberate on measures to revive the canal which could benefit hundreds of farmers on the city outskirts. However, the department did not take any step to refurbish the canal.
On the other hand, the Water Resources department had spent `45 lakh to clear the canal of hyacinths in 2015. Similarly, it had spent `13 lakh for the purpose in 2016. “Once again the authorities concerned have launched a project to remove hyacinth from the canal recently. They have allocated `20 lakh for the purpose,” said a source in the Prachi Division of Water Resources department.
At a time when sewage and drain water from the Capital city have been polluting the canal, encroachments have become a threat to the very existence of the water body, said sources.
They also claimed that the authorities of Prachi Division had written to the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) in 2016 asking the civic body to remove encroachments from the canal from Chakeisiani to Garage Square. Besides, the BMC was told to take immediate steps to stop releasing sewage to the canal.
However, the BMC did not take any step to remove encroachments from the canal and make it garbage-free. When contacted, BMC additional commissioner Suratha Chandra Mallick feigned ignorance about the letter sent by Prachi Division. “We will search old files and find out the letter. We will take necessary steps after holding discussions with the BMC commissioner,” he said.
A senior official of Prachi Division claimed that the canal has the potential to carry 100 cusec water daily to the farmlands in Jatni area. “The Water Resources department has recently held two meetings to renovate Taladanda Canal in Cuttack and Daya West Canal. The department has asked BMC to submit a report regarding the steps taken to stop release of sewage into the canal,” he added.
The official also revealed that the Water Resources department is planning to convene another meeting to discuss various issues to refurbish the canal. “A few MLAs and officials from BMC, Works and Urban Development departments may participate in the meeting,” he said.
Prachi Division executive engineer Bighnaraj Purohit said they would prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the renovation of Daya West Canal.