Sonepur: The fate of 19 proposed riverbed reservoir projects has been pushed into uncertainty as the state Water Resources department has yet to invite tenders even after eight months since the foundation stones were laid. Two of the 19 projects were to be constructed on Mahanadi riverbed at Godhaneswar under Birmaharajpur block of Subarnapur district, and Khairamal under Kantamal block in Boudh district. The former BJD government had planned to strengthen irrigation to the farmlands and thereby, augment the farmers’ income through the construction of large reservoirs on riverbeds sans any displacement of water. Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stones for the construction of 19 riverbed reservoirs in 13 districts through video-conferencing in the presence of thousands of farmers and women, January 20, this year. The then state government had claimed that funds worth Rs 4,600 crore would be spent for the purpose.
However, the projects have failed to make any headway due to delays by the state government. Meanwhile, eight months have passed since the laying of foundation stones but the state government has yet to float tenders for the projects. Sources said the state Water Resources Department is conducting soil tests for the preparation of designs and estimates for the projects. This has sparked widespread resentment among the residents.
Sources said the state government had decided to construct riverbed reservoirs or Integrated Storage Structures (ISS) in Subarnapur, Sambalpur, Bolangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Kalahandi, Sundargarh, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Puri, Khurda and Keonjhar districts following proposals from the residents of various districts.
The Water Resources department had then claimed that funds worth Rs 1,950 crore would be spent for the construction of Subarnapur and Boudh projects. The plans were envisioned at a time when Mahanadi water flow had reduced to a great extent during non-monsoon seasons after the Chhattisgarh government constructed multiple barrages upstream. The river also remains dry in the summer season.
Realising this, the state government had earlier prepared a master plan to make proper use of the water of Mahanadi and its distributaries. As part of this move, the state government had decided to construct multiple barrages on the Mahanadi in 2017. A preliminary survey was conducted and the technical advisory committee (TAC) also approved this decision.
However, the state government made an inordinate delay in implementing the project. The state Budget of 2023-24 FY had mention of the Subarnapur and Boudh projects. The Water Resources department also prepared a detailed project report. The tender was invited for the projects for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) on a contract basis after the projects received administrative approvals. However, the state government suddenly cancelled all the tenders for reasons best known to it.
Though it is claimed that a survey is underway for inviting tenders on P-1 mode, several months have passed without any visible headway.
Meanwhile, this has intensified politics in the areas as some claimed that the projects were announced only to gain votes for the 2024 elections. Locals have demanded that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who is also in charge of the Water Resources department, should take steps for implementation of the projects at the earliest.
