Bhubaneswar: A seminar was held at press club here in the capital city on sustainable development of water resources in Chitrotpala-Luna Doab of Mahanadi Basin, Sunday.
Officials present at the meeting emphasized on water management and solution of water logging problem at Gahagapat, flood control and water management of rivers Luna, Chitrotpala and Karandia.
The meeting comes in the wake of sharp depletion in the water-level of the rivers that has set alarm bells ringing among residents, especially the farmers.
Chitrotpala is a branch of Mahanadi river that took off at Guali and flows towards Nemalo and about 27 to 29 kilometres again it subdivides into Chitrotpala (main river) and Luna (distributary).
In the same doab area, Karandia is a distributary of river Luna and flows westward for about 12km and again merges with river Luna at Karandia Patana.
A natural drainage channel named Baghuni exists at the middle of the doab up to its downstream end, draining runoff from the entire island. The entire cultivated land on both sides of the Baghuni is populary known as ‘Gahagapat’.
People of these areas near the river depend on farming and agriculture. However, due to lack of adequate irrigation during winter and summer season, farmers fail to take up commercial agriculture.
Moreover, severe water logging occurs during rainy season, following which the entire area remains waterlogged and brings havoc to villagers in terms of flooding and disruption. Due to the above reasons, farmers are unable to draw water of the rivers and use in farming.
Based on the problems of the farmers, the National Welfare Trust initiated a process to put forth the grievance of farmers before Government and make a long term solution to the perennial problem of the area.
Among their various demands are:-
- Remodel of canal networks by making it continuous and strengthen the river embankment.
- The canal should be closed during storms
- Construction of additional sluice for discharge of storm water into the river system from a storage pond to be created to act as better zone
- Syphon as a part of barrage across river Luna near Marshaghai to discharge water to river Gobari.
- Construction of Syphon as part of the proposed barrage across river Luna at the tail end of Narayanpur to discharge water to Gobari river.
It is expected that the above measure will ensure long term solution to water logging, flood in Gahagapat area, benefitting about 18,500 farmers and overall one lakh population of the area.
In addition, the proposed project will also benefit in terms of developing irrigation for 10,000ha in the island, development of pisciculture in the water spread area to provide alternate livelihood to the farmers, prevent saline ingress to the area through river Luna and Chitrotpala, providing drinking water to Kendrapara town and other urban localities, generation of solar power using floating solar panels on water spread area of Barrage and Generation of Hydro Electricity at Barrage point installing Mini Hydel Plants, development of Eco tourism and Maritiem sport in water body and overall improvement in standard of living and quality of life of the people in the area.
PNN