Baripada: People of Baripada wrote to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik about a long-pending demand for a dyke along the Budhabalanga river which has remained a dream.
In the letters, they have demanded a high dyke from Mabandha to Damodarpur to check floods into the town.
In case of floods, people of Baripada town are affected almost every year in the absence of the dyke.
However, they were relieved that no floods happen. During Phailin in 2013, the river bust and inundated the town.
The entire town was inundated while people living in wards 4; 7;8 ; 9; 10; 11; 20 were marooned for days together. Even floodwaters had then entered the district headquarters hospital. The damage done by the flood had broken the economic backbone of people.
Since then, the residents have been demanding a dyke along the banks of the river.
Considering concern of the residents, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during his visit to Baripada January 30, 2018, announced that a dyke would be constructed along the river.
However, since then, no step has been taken on the announcement.
Reports said the 117th technical advisory committee had discussed about the dyke along Budhabalanga. The committee had recommended a estimated cost of Rs 62.34 crore to the government.
The TAC has also suggested that the dyke would be constructed in three phases from Damodar Ghat to Kuchei Ghat.
Locals like Padmanbh Sahu, Samir Barik, Jagannath Dey, Abhisekh Jena, Dinabandhu Giri, Rakesh Kumar Behera, Lalita Behera and Bandhita Dhal demanded quick step for the long awaited dyke.
PNN
