Gunupur: People living in Vamsadhara basin here in Rayagada district expressed resentment over the tribunal verdict on water dispute between Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.
They blamed the lack of foresightedness on the part of the state government which is why the verdict went in favour of the neighbouring state.
The Vamsadhara Water Disputes Tribunal (VWDT) Wednesday allowed the Andhra Pradesh government to go ahead with its plan to construct the Neradi barrage on river Vamsadhara, albeit with riders.
The river originates from the north-western ghat mountain range of Bisamkatak block in Rayagada district. Of its total length of 265 km, 185 km is in Orissa while the river meets the sea at Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
The severe floods of 1938, 1952, 1972 and 1980 which had inundated huge tracts of farmland of the district are attributed to the barrage constructed at the downstream of the river by Andhra Pradesh.
A survey was conducted in 1950 at Panidangar in Gudari block to set up an irrigation project to prevent flood. Later, Andhra engineers zeroed in on a place in Gunupur to set up the project. It was also proposed to excavate two canals – from Neradi to Panidangar – at the right side of the river.
Accordingly the Chief Ministers of both state, in a joint declaration in 1961, decided to set up Neradi project for which Orissa gave away 106 acres of land. However, the neighbouring state’s government didn’t honour the declaration and went ahead to set up a barrage at Gota in 1979. This had resulted in severe flood in Orissa in 1980.
The dispute over the issue turned even bitter after Andhra started another barrage at Katragada and Orissa demanded formation of a tribunal opposing the construction. The inordinate delay in formation of the tribunal forced Orissa to move the Supreme Court.
Finally, the tribunal was formed February 6, 2009. Though tribunal head Mukundakanda Sharma visited the proposed site April 23, 2013 for the first time, he didn’t cover the affected areas of Orissa. This had triggered resentment among the protesters and they raised slogans against the visit of Sharma creating an ugly scene.
Though the matter was pending with the tribunal, Andhra government carried on the construction at Katraguda.
Wednesday’s verdict is considered as a blow to Orissa and evoked sharp reactions among people residing in Vamsadhara basin.
“We have no problem if AP uses the rainwater. But utilisation of water by it in other seasons would be vehemently opposed,” president of Navanirman Samiti, an outfit fighting for the cause, Akhay Das, warned.
Gunupur bar association president Brahmananda Patnaik said lawyers oppose the tribunal’s ruling and they would take up the matter with the state government.
Orissa has long standing disputes with Andhra over the latter’s construction of projects on several rivers including Sileru, Saberi, Saptadhara, Kolab, Bahuda, Nagabali, Jhanjabati and Mahendratanaya which have originated from south Orissa, a report said. PNN