Kendrapada (SunstarTV Bureau):A huge numbers of farmers formed a human chain of length over 2 km, around Gadagadighat Bridge in an attempt to save the river Kharasrota and to scrap the State Government’s Mega Drinking Water Project of worth Rs 892 crore.
Agitated framers from more than 60 Panchayats of Aul and Rajkanika blocks of Odisha’s costal district of Kendrapara, on Saturday build a human chain and served an ultimatum to Naveen Patnaik led Government to pause the water project.
The crowd urged the State Government and District administration to look into the issue and give justice to them. “River Kharasrota is our lifeline and any attempt to loot water from here to serve in other areas will be dealt with democratic protest,” farmers said while shouting slogans against the company- giving the work order.
The project had already been under scanner of National Green Tribunal (NGT). Sources said, Kolkata based Rashmi Metaliks Ltd. manufactured heavy water pipes have been parked near Chandabali Bridge connecting Kendrapara-Bhadrak on river Baitarani, despite a robust protest from the locals of Rajkanika, Aul and many other local places.
Locals have raised voice their against the State’s project motive as it had skipped major rivers like Baitarani, Salandi, Mantei and Kansabansa and instead opt to extract water from Kharasrota, the smallest river in the State.
“This clearly overlooked the fact that the project could adversely impact the people of Rajakanika and Aul blocks in the Kendrapara district, who are solely dependent on Kharasrota for their drinking and agricultural requirements,” said a NGT report.
