'Flooding' Investments

Traditionally unheard of, flood has become a regular feature in these rivers, thanks to our river managers and decision makers. These man-made floods are the result of diversion of Indravati water, which after power production, flows to the narrow-channel of the Hati, subsequently draining to the Tel. It is a fact that it is the water of Indravati that is causing flash floods in these rivers of late.

The arrogance and shortsightedness of the mainstream river management paradigm is clearly evident in this example, where at one point, investment is made to cause flood (by diverting water) and then further investment is justified at another point to control flood. Is it a sheer coincidence that while both the interventions suit engineers, contractors and politicians, it is the people who suffer - be it the downstream inhabitants of Indravati suffering from water exclusion or the communities in the river banks of Hati, Tel and Udanti facing flash floods.

Who are our rivers for any way?

Floods: River embankments to be strengthened
Express News Service
First Published : 31 Aug 2010 08:57:30 AM IST
Last Updated :

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to strengthen the embankment of the Tel, the Hati and the Udanti rivers to deal with the flash floods in Kalahandi and Nabarangpur districts.

The total length of the embankments is 54 km. Official sources said that ` 90 crore would be required for strengthening the embankments. A decision was taken to request National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for financial assistance to implement the project.

A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting presided over by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surjya Narayan Patro at the Secretariat today.

For strengthening of embankment at vulnerable points ` 3 crore will be needed out of which the Water Resources Department will provide ` 1 crore and ` 2 crore will be made available by the Revenue Department. Apart from strengthening of the embankments, the submergible culvert near Junagarh over the Hati river on NH-201 will be replaced by a high-level bridge. The project will be undertaken by the Works Department.

Among others, Secretaries of Rural Development, Water Resources, Revenue and senior officials were present.