Jajpur: The proposed Rs 892 crore piped drinking water project will quench the thirst of people in 91 panchayats of Bhadrak district. However at the same time the project is seen as a threat to the Bhitarakanika National Park (BNP).
The proposed project will draw water from Kharasrota river. This river flows through Jajpur and Kendrapara. Residents of Chandbali, Bassudevpur, Tihidi and Dhamnagar blocks will benefit from this project. As per plans, the project will draw water from the Kharasrota river near Barunadiha, which lies between Aul and Rajkanika in Kendrapara.
Activists apprehending threat to the BNP has filed a petition with the National Green Tribunal (NGT). A case has been registered (23/2020/EZ) based on the petition.
The petitioner, Sanjay Kumar Behura, has said that the project will reduce the downstream flow of water in the river. It will have a detrimental impact on the rich flora and fauna found within the BNP.
The river passes along one side of the park before mingling into the sea. The existence of the BNP largely depends on the fresh water of the river. If the water flow decreases, the salinity of the water will increase and will cause extensive damage to the plantation found in the park. Moreover, people in nearby areas will also face acute scarcity of drinking water and agriculture purposes, the petitioner has said.
In the last hearing (May 14), the bench of NGT, comprising its judicial member justice SP Wangdi and expert member Siddhant Das, directed Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) to deposit a detail fact-based report. The next hearing has been scheduled for August 5.
A meeting on the proposed project was recently convened at the circle office of Water Resources Department at Chandikhole July 16. Superintendent, RWSS, superintending engineer, Cuttack Circle, superintendent engineer, Chandikhole circle and executive engineers of Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jajpur divisions of RWSS attended it.
They discussed on the alternate possibilities of rivers like Baitrani, Salandi, Kansabansa and Mantei.
It was discussed in the meeting that the Baitarani river water cannot meet the requirement of the project. Similarly, the water flow in Salandi and Kansabansa is not perennial. They also ticked off Mantei river as its water is saline and it is about 30 kilometres from the proposed project site. So Kharasrota river was left as the last resort.
The members reached to a consensus that the project will not affect the BNP as it is 32 kilometres away from the project site. Meanwhile, an engineer stationed in Cuttack has informed the RWSS engineer-in-chief that the Water Resources Department has given its permission for the project (Letter No-2412/12/09/2019). This information was provided by sources.
When contacted, Chandeswar Behera, superintendent engineer, water resources department of Chandikhole Circle said the required report will be placed with the NGT at the right time as per the direction of the NGT. No final decision on the mega project has been taken as yet, he informed.
PNN