Protest Against Drinking Water Project: 2-Month Prohibitory Order Clamped In 3 Panchayats Of Odisha’s Kendrapada

Kendrapada: Keeping the opposition of the locals to the mega drinking water project over river Kharasrota in view, the district administration on Tuesday clamped Section 144 of CrPC in three panchayats of the district for two months to ensure uninterrupted work of the project.

The prohibitory order has been imposed in Balakati, Bharigada and Barunadiha panchayats under Rajkanika block till October 8. Besides, 12 platoons of police have been deployed in the area to prevent any law and order problem.

The local people under the banner of Kharasrota Banchao Sangram Samiti (KBSS) has been protesting the project which is coming up with a budget of Rs 892 crore under the Buxi Jagabandhu Assured Water Supply to Habitations (BASUDHA) scheme to provide drinking water to Bhadrak district.

In fact, the members of KBSS staged a road blockade on Tuesday in protest against the administration’s decision to go ahead with the project and 35 of them were arrested by police. They had also taken out a torch rally on Monday.

Talking to the media, KBSS convenor and former Congress MLA of Aul Debendra Sharma said the state government has taken up the project ignoring the larger interest of the people.

“We had earlier told the government to construct an in-stream barrage over Kharasrota and supply the water to Bhadrak district. But it ignored our request. Besides, five MLAs of Kendrapada district had a meeting with the 5T secretary for construction of an in-stream barrage over Mahanadi,” he pointed out.

Stating that the local MLA of Rajkanika also ignored the people’s demand, he said the government may complete the mega project in presence of police force, but the people will not allow the supply of water to Bhadrak district.

“The police cannot guard the project round the clock. We have decided that we will not allow supply of Kharasrota water to Bhadrak until the in-stream barrage is constructed,” Sharma maintained.

Secretary of the Samiti Bidhan Das said while the people have been agitating for a long time against the project, the state government has ignored their concern. “The people will not remain silent. We will intensify the agitation further,” he said.

Das further said as most people of three panchayats belong to farmer community and depend on the river water for irrigation, they will be deprived of their livelihood, if the water is diverted.