Kuchinda: There has been growing unrest among the local community of Gochhara panchayat under Kuchinda block in Sambalpur district due to irregularities in the construction of a barrage on Bheden River at Janakdihi by a company. The barrage is being built to facilitate irrigation in the block but has run into troubled waters. Residents of the block are now expressing their dissatisfaction with the project. They have already written a letter on this issue to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and marked a copy to 5-T Secretary VK Pandian, the district collector of Sambalpur, Ananya Das, and the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).
Sources informed that the Odisha government had approved the construction of the barrage on Bheden river to provide water for the hyper-arid areas. The Water Resources department had floated a tender last year to choose a company that would be interested in the construction of the project. After examining the bids, a company from Chhattisgarh was selected to construct the barrage at a cost of Rs 55 crore. Work on the project started in November 2022.
Locals alleged that staff of the company has been carrying out illegal stone blasting around the river and using those in construction work. They said that this process will erode the river banks and it may lead to natural calamities like floods. Blasting of stones is also affecting the atmosphere they alleged and added that stone crushers should be used for the project.
Locals also alleged that the company engaged in the construction of the barrage is involved in illegal sand mining. They pointed out that the company is collecting sand from the river bed and using it for construction without obtaining permission from the authorities. Also, the company has been accused of irregularities while procuring materials and hiring workers. One can clearly feel the frustration of residents living in parts of Kuchinda block. They had thought that the barrage will be of great help to them.
However, now they are worried because of the way the barrage is being constructed. Locals want the state government and district administration to step in to prevent the situation from turning worse. They said that the present company should be removed and new bids be invited from other companies. Sources pointed out that permission is needed from Gram Sabhas when stone blasting is carried out in any particular area. They alleged that the company has not been given any such permission.
However, Kuchinda tehsildar Prasanna Tete defended the construction company asserting that it had obtained all the necessary permissions for stone blasting and sand mining.
