Special body for integrated river valley development demanded

Staff Reporter

Dakshin Odisha Vikash Parishad takes up the issue with State

Leaders to hold seminars, workshops to create public awareness

It has come up with a holistic plan for the regeneration and utilisation of water resources

BERHAMPUR: Demands are on for the establishment of an autonomous board for the integrated river valley development in south Orissa.

The Dakshin Odisha Vikash Parishad (DOVP), an organisation formed to take up issues and problems related to south Orissa with the State government has come up with this demand.

The leaders of the organisation are now making rounds in parts of south Orissa to hold seminars and workshops to create public awareness regarding the demand.

The president of the organisation, Dayanidhi Sahu said it was high time for the government to come up with an integrated plan for protection and utilisation of water resources in south Orissa. According to him the DOVP has come up with a holistic plan for the regeneration and maximum utilisation of water resource of Vamnsadhara, Nagavali, Jhanjabati, Rushikulya, lower Kolab, Mahendratanaya rivers of south Orissa.

According to him the government can come up with a project on the lines of Tennessee Valley Development Authority of America for the purpose.

Irrigation project

The organisation has proposed that the State government should take up projects at places on the upper end of the Bansadhara river basin like an irrigation project at Belkana on the Nagavali river, a hydel project on Jhanjabati river near the Rayagada town, a hydel project on the Nagavali river at Hatipadar and a hydel project at Panidangar in Gudari-Chadrapur blocks. According to him these small hydel projects would lead to maximum utilisation of water resources of south Orissa.

The DOVP activists also feel that the government can also establish an autonomous development board for under developed regions of undivided Koraput, Kandhamal and Ganjam districts of south Orissa under the Article 371 of the constitution.

As per DOVP activists the former State minister of planning and coordination, Bhagabat Prasad Mohanty had promised the formation of a development council for south Orissa at a public meeting held in Berhampur on December 11, 1995.

According to Mr. Sahu, leaders of all major political parties of south Orissa had supported this demand then. But the issue was lost in the corridors of power.

The State government formed the autonomous Western Orissa Development Council but a similar demand from south Orissa was sidelined.