Kendrapara: The Mahanadi water dispute concerning sharing of the river water between Odisha and Chhattisgarh is getting murkier day by day as the tribunal hearing the case is yet to pronounce its order, a report said.
However, the Mahanadi water dispute had its ripple effect in Kendrapara district as locals apprehend that the dam construction by the Chhattisgarh government might dry up the distributaries and water bodies flowing in the district. A decline in water flow in Mahanadi due to dam construction might also lead to closure of the proposed first riverine port project at Akhadasali under Mahakalapara block in the district, sources said.
The residents also fear that the dam construction will seriously affect agricultural works and drinking water supply in the district and turn the district into a saline zone.
A Zilla Parishad member (zone no-26) Ganesh Chandra Samal said that the Mahanadi water nourishes several distributaries and canals flowing in the district. He added that the dam construction will lead to a decline in water flow from the upstream and result in serious damage in Kendrapara district which is on the downstream.
He said that the Mahanadi river is stretched from Mahanangal under Mahakalapara block for 10 km till Gadaromit. The Chitrotpala river, a distributary flowing in the district emerges from Mahanadi at Gualinasi in neighbouring Cuttack district.
The Luna river also flowing in the district originates from Chitrotpala at Barpada. The Paika river near Tendakura in the district and the Birupa river near Chowdwar in Cuttack district also draw their water from Mahanadi.
The Kendrapara canal which starts from Jagatpur in Cuttack district draws water from Mahanadi and supplies them to Gobari canal and its extension as well as Pattamundai canal flowing in the district. The river water also helps in cultivation of crops on 41,681 hectare of farmlands in the district.
The fresh water of Mahanadi is used as drinking water by the residents of Kendrapara town and in saline areas of Rajnagar and Mahakalapara blocks. Former councilor Hiranya Kumar Panda alleged that the unilateral move by the Chhattisgarh government in dam construction will seriously affect power production, agriculture and drinking water supply in the state and might lead to closure of proposed riverine port project in the district.
Sk. Fazrul Haque, president of Patkura Anchalik Bikash Committee said that Chitrotpala river is the lifeline for the local residents and helps in raising paddy and vegetable cultivation on the farmlands near the Mahanadi river basin. The river will become dry and extinct if the water flow in Mahanadi declines due to dam construction. This will have catastrophic effect on the life of the residents, he alleged.
Farmer leader Gayadhar Dhar demanded an early settlement to Mahanadi water dispute. He said that if the tribunal ruling supports Chhattisgarh it will have serious consequences on agriculture, drinking water supply and environment affecting the residents. He called all political parties not to politicise the issue and work towards an early settlement of the issue to safeguard the interest of the state.
PNN