Odisha Farmers Panic As Chhattisgarh Constructs Check Dam

Bhubaneswar: The farmers of villages in Sundergarh and Jharsuguda districts sharing border with Chhattisgarh are in a panic as the neighbouring state is on the verge of completion of a check dam on river Ib.

Ib, a tributary of river Mahanadi, is the lifeline of Sundergarh and Jharsuguda districts. The farmers of the two districts, particularly those living along the state border, largely depend on the river for farming besides daily needs.

They apprehend that if the Chhattisgarh project coming up near Samdama in Sundergarh district is completed, it will throw their livelihood into uncertainty.

The neighbouring state is constructing the check dam at an estimated cost of Rs 17 crore. It has 40 gates to obstruct flow of 95.8 per cent of water of river Ib.