Kendrapara: The Gobari River flowing by Pattamundai area in Kendrapara district for a 20-km stretch is getting buried fast and its existence has been threatened, a report said Sunday. Taking advantage of the situation, land sharks are manipulating the land classification and selling plots on the riverbed. With the river getting buried to the extent that it may cease to exist, locals and various outfits have been demanding the renovation of the river for a long. Heeding the demands, the state government launched the river revival programme and spent Rs 10.55 crore towards the excavation of the river in 2010 and 2022.
However, the project was soon aborted following which the river is again getting buried. This has proved suitable for land sharks as they encroach on the dry patches of the river bed and sell them as plots by changing their status.
As a result, several buildings have come up on the river land, while construction of many others is underway. This has sparked concern among environmentalists, nature lovers, and residents as the river inches toward a slow death.
Residents have alleged that the district and the local administrations are no less responsible for the present fate of the river, which was once a thriving water body irrigating the farmlands and controlling floods. The then British government had constructed a barrage at the river’s origin from Brahmani river for flood control and a channel to discharge the floodwater through Gobari River into the sea.
However, the state Water Resources department hindered the free flow of water in the river by wrongfully constructing a dam on the river six decades back. Later, the state government allegedly committed another blunder by constructing the Pattamundai bus stand building on plot no-1329 on the Gobari River.
Later, a veterinary hospital on plot no-2047 and plot no-2048, an electricity office on Sabik (past) plot no-1076, a telephone office on Hal (current) plot no-3602, a residential area called block colony at Dakhinadia mouza, a Rural Development office on plot no2049 and 2050, as well as many constructions on plot no-2043 and 2046 by the panchayat samiti and on plot no-3603 by Terajodi and other buildings have come up on the Gobari river. However, the government agencies never spared a thought on what would be the effect of their mindless constructions on the Gobari River.
Later, the authorities also changed the status of the river islet and launched the construction of an indoor stadium. People have lately realised that the river is never going to be renovated as government buildings have come up on it. Sensing opportunity from the government move, land sharks and many influential people have also started encroaching on the river. They have constructed houses on the river bed and given them on rent at Beltala, Dakhinadia, and Pokhariapada mouza adjoining Pattamundai bazaar. They are also carving out small plots on the river bed and selling those to interested buyers.
Many have grabbed government lands under current khata no-221 and 1065 in the settlement survey conducted in 1930. Later, in the consolidation exercise held in 1984, many managed to get RoR (patta) registered in their names. Locals alleged that the district administration has turned a blind eye to these irregularities.
Currently, there is no water flow in the river and the riverbed is getting buried. All those who have purchased land from the land brokers are yet to get pattas in their name. They alleged that despite taking several rounds of the tehsil office, they are yet to get their pattas.
Members of the Pattamundai legal services authority identified as Prafulla Dash, Debashis Panda, Khirod Mallick, and Ashok Bal have filed a public interest litigation (PIL) at National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). The NALSA heard the matter and directed the engineer-in-chief of the Water Resources department to take steps in this regard but the orders are yet to be implemented. When contacted, tehsildar Dillip Sethi said that he is yet to receive any complaint about nonissuance of patta which is not in the government guideline. Residents alleged that the Gobari river was alive and thriving for a long time but is dying slowly due to lack of proper upkeep and periodic renovation. The riverbed is now being encroached due to lack of water flow in the river sparking concern among environmentalists.