Anandapur: Baitarani River is considered holy and the lifeline of Keonjhar like the Ganges of North India. But flow has drastically fallen over the years in this perennial river, and it has become a cause of concern for people in the villages of Anandapur sub-division in Keonjhar district. This has adversely impacted water tables in creeks, ponds and other water bodies along the river, a report said.
In summer, the water bodies dry up leaving people in distress. The issue has created resentment among the locals who have been bracing up for a massive campaign to save the river even though the state government has been carrying out a campaign over the Mahanadi.
Some organisations pointed out that river linking projects can save Baitarani from going dry. The report said the government had earlier decided to execute two projects on the river at Anandapur as part of the project linking Salandi with Baitarani.
A barrage project is being executed at Anandapur while construction of canals on the two sides of the river is underway to connect it with Salandi.
The barrage will be completed in August, sources said. The project aims at conserving water in the river and then releasing it into Salandi through the left side canal.
After land acquisition about 70 per cent of the canal work is over. However, locals said the project will give more benefit to people of Bhadrak and Balasore than to Anandapur residents.
The under construction canal is much below the ground level and will not be able to provide water to upland farms. Farmers in Anandapur will not get irrigation, the locals said.
To conserve water and maintain its level in Baitarani another barrage has been proposed at river Brahmani at Rengali. But land acquisition for the canal has not been taken up.
If this project is completed vast areas of Anandapur will get irrigation facility. Locals alleged that due to the step-motherly attitude of the Centre, the river linking project has not made progress.
They also pointed out that if one canal project is executed without the other, people will not get a drop of water for irrigation.
“In such a situation the Save Baitarani Campaign will be taken up with lawyers, youth organisations, intellectuals and social activists joining in coming days,” said Sanjay Kumar Mishra, president of Anandapur Bar Association, and Mahendra Kumar Mohapatra, a senior lawyer.
PNN
