Paralakhemundi: Once lifelines for farmers, fishermen and residents of Paralakhemundi, the five historic large ponds built during the reign of Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati have fallen into neglect.
The large ponds – Ram Sagar, Sita Sagar, Laxman Sagar, Krushna Sagar and Gajapati Sagar – were originally developed as part of a water management plan by the late ruler, who is remembered for his pro-people initiatives.
Each of these ponds, which are almost the size of a lake, was linked to the Mahendratanaya river through a canal system that regulated irrigation on the farmlands downstream.
Excess water would flow into the river. These ponds, which had become the lifeline of farmers and fishermen, were also used as drinking water sources by the residents.
Also Read: Paralakhemundi railway station statue sparks controversy
Now, due to poor upkeep by the Irrigation department and the state government, the ponds have been filled with silt, overgrown with weeds and left largely unusable.
Farmers and fishermen say their livelihoods have been severely hit as the water sources that once sustained them are nearly gone. The former state government had sanctioned funds for restoration of these ponds.
Ram Sagar was allotted Rs3.21 crore, Krushna Sagar received Rs2.54 crore, and Gajapati Sagar was allocated Rs 1.19 crore for the purpose. Some works were done for renovation of Ram Sagar, but were abandoned midway.
Similarly, residents have alleged that the renovation work of Krushna Sagar is sub-standard while partial repair work was taken up for Gajapati Sagar.
Officials said the projects were left incomplete. In recent years, some people have been using these ponds as dumping pits, tossing waste into the water bodies. On the city outskirts, trash and debris are being thrown into Ram Sagar and Sita Sagar.
When asked about the issue, Ashish Mallik, assistant executive engineer of the Minor Irrigation department, said funds had been sanctioned under the state government’s Triple R scheme for the renovation of Ram Sagar, Krushna Sagar and Gajapati Sagar.
While work on Krushna Sagar has been completed, work on the other two ponds stopped midway after the contractor abandoned the projects. Mallik said that a detailed project report (DPR) for the restoration of Sita Sagar has already been submitted. Renovation of other ponds and canals will follow in phases, he added.
PNN
