Dhamnagar: Thousands of hectare in 10 riparian panchayats under Dhamnagar block in Bhadrak district have remained unirrigated due to absence of sluice gates at Bankasahi in Kothar panchayat despite huge presence of water resources.
Farmers in the area lamented that every year they had to face drought like situation while waters of Baitrarani, Salandi rivers and several other creeks drain out into the sea without being utilised.
Farmers say, Kochila (a distributary of Baitarani), Reba and Kapali (distributaries of Salandi) have made the land fertile with their alluvial deposits during floods every year. However, it is of no use for raising crops and vegetables during rabi season.
Sources said the government has initiated renovation of Reba, Kapali and Genguti rivers as they are gradually getting silted. The renovation efforts are meant to battle floods in the block. However it needs to combine efforts to harness water for the farm sector.
“After rainy season, farmlands go dry leaving little scope for us to raise crops. There is a need for a sluice gate or any other system at Bankasahi in Kothar panchayat. The sluice gate can help strengthen our economic backbone,” some farmers noted.
Anam Sahu, a farmer of Khopasahi, said waters of Salandi flow through Reba and Balichatiri river before draining into the sea at Bankasahi. The renovation of rivers will only hasten the flow of water draining into the sea but water should be reserved for agriculture, Sahu added.
Rajkishore Jena of Patrisahi said they have long been demanding a sluice gate at Bankasahi and the government does not pay heed to their demand.
The sluice gate will help irrigate the farmland and save it from drought in panchayats like Kothar, Kasimpur, Fatehpur, Dhusuri, Bhatasahi, Bayangdihi, Nadigan, Arjunpur, Dalang and Bamkura. PNN
