Sambalpur1: Even as the BJD has been taking out Kalash Yatras throughout the state against Chhattisgarh for building dams across river Mahanadi to supply water to industrial units, the raging controversy has left lakhs of farmers seething with anger in western Orissa.
A number of farmers’ associations have now started ganging up for widespread agitation against the neighbouring state government’s attempt to supply water to industries.
The farmers said the upstream dams will muffle the lifeline of Orissa. The dams in the upstream area, which are reportedly meant to supply water to industrial units rather than agriculture, will endanger their existence, they added.
The dams will constrict the command area of the Hirakud dam, only to induce slow death to agriculture and severely affect electricity generation in the state.
According to farmers in western Orissa, the Mahanadi is the lifeline of Orissa and intrinsically linked with the culture of the people.
The river emerges from Amarkantak hill in Chhattisgarh and enters Orissa near Sukhasoda village under Lakhanpur block in Jharsuguda district. Then it meanders through Sambalpur, Bargarh, Subarnapur, Boudh, Angul, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur before merging with the Bay of Bengal at Paradip.
Now, a big fight seems set to escalate between the two states over Mahanadi: A fight that the farmers term agriculture versus industries.
As the Chhattisgarh government is adamant on its stand to carry out about 160 small and big dam projects, farmers of western Orissa under the banner of Paschima Orissa Krushak Sangathan Smanwaya Samiti, are now bracing for an agitation against the move.
Farmers alleged the neighbouring state has built dams without taking permission from the Central Water Commission, though it superficially claims that 2,000 hectares of farmland is irrigated by the projects. But the neighbouring state actually aims at supplying water to industries and not to farmland, the farmers claimed.
The farmers’ body had carried out agitation from 2006 to 2008 against supply water from Hirakud to industrial units.
Famers alleged both the state governments are supplying Mahanadi water to industrial units while neglecting the cause of farmers.
According to Paschima Orissa Krushak Sangathan Smanwaya Samiti, irrigation of 1,90,841 hectares of farmland in Sambalpur, Bargarh, Subarnapur and Bolangir will be affected, after the dams in Chhattisgarh are made fully operational.
Besides, about 18 industrial units in Sambalpur and Jharsuguda, which depend on Mahanadi water, will be severely affected.
Sirju Khamai, president of Gayatri Krushak Sangh (Jharsuguda), said, ”Farmers will not avail water in rabi season after commissioning of the barrages in Chhattisgarh. Supply of water to only industries will affect agriculture.”
However, farmer Pradip Kumar Swain of Birmaharajpur, stated that politicisation of the Mahanadi issue should be stopped. He warned of widespread agitation if the governments do not stop showing favoritism to industries and neglecting farmers.
“Both Orissa and Chhattisgarh governments have no concern for farmers and agriculture. A farce is now going on only to favour industries. All the farmers in Bolangir will take part in the upcoming agitations,” said Arun Mishra, president of Zilla Krushak Sangathan (Bolangir).
Lingaraj Pradhan, the convener of Paschima Orissa Krushak Sangathan Smanwaya Samiti, observed, “All political parties have blown their trumpets for battle over the Mahanadi row. The barrages in the upstream will definitely affect farmers. Both public and farmers should oppose the bid to supply Mahanadi water to industries.”
Warning a note of caution, Niranjan Bidrohi, convener of Krushak Sangharsh Samiti (Kalahandi), underscored the need for utilising the water for drinking and irrigation rather than industries. ”People are being misled over the issue,” he decried.
Rajendra Nayak, president of Zilla Krushak Sangathan (Subarnapur), said, “The Mahanadi flows through rural pockets in the district. After commissioning of the dam projects in Chhattisgarh, many lift irrigation points in Orissa will go defunct. Lakhs of fishermen and farmers will lose their livelihood. We are preparing for a huge agitation over this issue in September.” PNN