Paralakhemundi: Odisha and Andhra Pradesh had moved the Supreme Court after the neighbouring state tried to construct dams on Mahendratanaya and Vamshadhara rivers in the Gajapati district. However, the neighbouring state got a boost after the apex court ruled in its favour. Now, buoyed by the Supreme Court ruling, Andhra Pradesh has gone a step ahead and conducted ‘Bhoomi Pujan’, breaking ground for the construction of dams on the two rivers, Wednesday. The bitterness between Odisha and Andhra over sharing the water of Mahendratanaya and Vamshadhara rivers has reached a flashpoint with the Andhra government going ahead with its irrigation project. The matter came to light after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy performed the groundbreaking rituals and laid the foundation stone for the twin projects at Melliaputti in Srikakulam district, Wednesday.
As per reports, a reservoir and sluice dam will be built for an offshore irrigation project on Mahendratanaya and a reservoir on Vamshadhara at Heeramandalam. Both projects will be constructed at an expense of Rs 476.35 crore. The reservoir at Heeramandalam will draw water from the Katraguda project on the Vamshadhara river. The Mahendratanaya project will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore and the Vamshdhara project at Rs 176.35 crore. The twin projects, when completed and functional, are set to result in drinking water scarcity and affect agricultural activities adversely in the Gajapati district. It is alleged that the neighboring state is leaving no stone unturned to rob Odisha’s share of the river water.
However, the state government here has failed to take any exemplary steps to stop the bids of Andhra Pradesh. In past, the construction of an offshore irrigation project on Mahendratanaya by Andhra was opposed strongly by Gajapati district residents.
Later, the state government decided to construct two upstream projects on the Mahendratanaya at Dambapur and Champapur in Rayagad block in 2007. Meanwhile, construction works on the upstream projects have been completed but the canal works are yet to start. The two projects when completed will help provide irrigation and drinking water facilities to the people of Rayagada and Gosani blocks. This could also prove to be a fitting reply to Andhra’s highhandedness.
However, the lackadaisical attitude of the state government has emboldened the Andhra government to implement such projects, one after another. Locals demanded that the state government should take immediate steps to safeguard the interest of people in Gajapati district.