Kendrapara: The Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry has intervened in the mega drinking water project, which envisages to draw the water of Kharasrota river in Kendrapara and to utilize it in Bhadrak district, even as some outfits and locals have been strongly opposing the project.
The Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry has directed the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) to look into alleged impact of the drinking water project on the biodiversity of Bhitarakanika and submit a detailed report.
The PCCF has been issued a letter in this regard. It may be noted here that Khitish Kumar Singh, a resident of Khadianga had intimated the matter to the Prime Ministers’ Grievance Cell, strongly opposing the drinking water project proposed at Nuahata in Bhadrak.
The ministry took it seriously and admitted the complaint. It may be noted here that farmers and locals, united under the banner of Kharosotra Banchao Sangram Samiti (KBSS) have opposed the project several times in the past.
They opposed the move to divert 146 million litres of water per day from the river to Bhadrak.
They alleged that Kharosotra river would dry up after this mega drinking water is implemented. The project is feared to gradually destroy agriculture and environment affecting 220 riverside villages with a population of around four lakh in Aul and Rajkanika blocks.
Locals demanded that the government should first build a barrage in the river to store water before diverting it to other district.
Environmentalists and locals observed that diversion of water from an already deficient river basin would lead to ingress of seawater upstream and will affect the district’s agricultural activities while biodiversity of the Bhitarkanika will be affected.
The project, estimated at Rs 892 crore entails diversion of water from the river to 91 panchayats and benefit population of around five lakh of four blocks of the Bhadrak district.
PNN