Kendrapara: Residents of Lokanathprasad village under Chandibaunsamula in Rajnagar block are a worried lot. The Brahmani river has eroded some parts of the village, leading to many residents leaving their homes and hearths and rushing to safer places.
Over last four decades, at least six villages including Lahuni, Mangalpur, Gopinathpur, Ichhapur, Beruhankola and Nuagaon have lost their existence due to erosion of Brahmani and Kharasrota rivers. The crawling rivers have posed a threat to Jaduchandrapur, Dakhinaveda, Jhadakata, Dholamara, Lokanathprasad and Kusunpur villages.
The flood threat has been compounded by fears that estuarine crocodiles would enter the village during the rainy season when, river waters ingress into human habitations by breaking the ring embankment.
Purusottam Rout, an octogenarian, said when he was 40 years, his family was staying on the opposite side of river embankment. But, with the passage of time he lost his house and agriculture fields.
“Not only my house, houses of several fellow villagers have been washed out over last four decades. About 30 families have been staying in Palanda village after they lost their houses and agriculture due to river erosion. Twenty-five families were staying at Jarimula and 50 stayed at Kaloni. Over last 30 years, my village has been shifted at least thrice,” Rout said.
The administration has built embankments for three times to save the villages, but massive erosion has destroyed the ring embankments. “Meanwhile, 70 families stay in the village and our future is bleak,” Rout added.
The situation has assumed alarming proportions at Lokanathprasad village due to topographical changes over the years. Due to constant river erosion, the cyclone centre at Lokanathprasad is also on the brink of destruction.
Mohan Kumar Das, sarpanch of Chandibaunsamula panchayat, said though the erosion-hit villagers continue to voice anger against the governmental apathy, nothing has happened.
Though people have been demanding immediate measures to save the villages, the state government had been callous till date. In 1984 , the state government had planned to strengthen spurs on the riverbank, a portion of the spur was packed. Even villagers November 23, 2003 had staged a five-day fast unto death near the river bank. In February 2004, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik paid a visit to the Chandibaunsamula village and laid the foundation stone for packing stones and spurs on the river embankment. Though 12 years have passed, stone and spur packing works have not been completed, locals alleged. PNN
