Rayagada: The Nagavali river, one of the main rivers in southern Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh, is known as the lifeline of this district. However, the river is drying up fast with a decline in water level, which has sparked concern among the residents, a report said. The river, originating from a hill under Thuamula Rampur block in Kalahandi district, has been serving the residents of the district for a long time in irrigating their farmlands as well as a source for drinking water.
However, the river has come under serious threat, with water level coming down fast. Earlier, the river used to hold over three feet of water during the summer season. But now it has come down, with the river holding only less than a foot of water during the same period. The river can now be seen lying dry as far as Macchlipatnam in Andhra Pradesh. It is apprehended that if the situation persists, things may worsen in the coming days. A drop of water will not be available to drink, not to mention the availability of water in the river to irrigate the farmlands. The drop in water level has impacted agriculture in rabi season as the LI points are non-operational due to a lack of water in the river.
Reports said that over 90 per cent of farmlands are lying unirrigated, while the residents in riparian villages have started feeling the pinch of drinking water scarcity. Even the drinking water supply to Rayagada town has been affected. Observers alleged that lack of awareness, changing the course of river to some extent on the pretext of various government projects, and illegal sand mining and smuggling to Andhra Pradesh all along the river are a few reasons behind the fast decline in water level. The river is the source of drinking water supply to the villages under Kalyansinghpur, Kolnara and Rayagada blocks as well as Rayagada town.
Even residents in some parts of Andhra Pradesh depend on this river. However, illegal sand and stone mining with the use of heavy earth moving equipment has seriously affected the river. The illegal mining and smuggling at Kumutipentha, Kotapeta, Maligaon, JKPur, Raya g ada town, Par tapur, Sheshkhal and Kereda is a case in point. The sand extracted here is smuggled to Andhra Pradesh in trucks. This has been continuing due to a lack of stringent action by the Revenue officials. It is alleged that the Revenue officials ignore this illegal sand mining in exchange for bribes, for which sand mining is flourishing day by day.
Moreover, the construction of two major irrigation projects downstream of the river by Andhra Pradesh has also affected Nagavali’s water flow. It is alleged that the Totapalli project is using the most water from the river. The neighbouring state is conserving the river water during the rainy and winter seasons and using it for cultivation purposes during the summer season. This apart, it is also constructing several small and minor projects on the river, which is hindering the water flow and drying up the river. Illegal sand mining is also resulting in landslides during the rainy season, during which the width of the river is expanding and changes its course.
Experts have warned that if immediate measures are not taken, things might slip out of hand. Illegal sand and stone mining has to stop first to save the river, said environmentalist Nihar Ranjan. He also advised stopping the felling of trees for house construction on the river bank to prevent the river from overflowing during the rainy season.