Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Chhattisgarh’s barrage plan irks locals

Expressbuzz, Feb 9, 2009

JEYPORE: The contention over water sharing involving Orissa and Chhattisgarh is back. This time over the Janra river, a tributary of Indravati that emanates from Kalahandi and meanders through Koraput area into Chhattisgarh.


People of Kotpad block of Koraput have threatened to protest Chhattisgarh Government’s decision to construct a barrage on the confluence of the Janra near Smutipadar village.

The barrage is being built to divert the river water from Orissa side which, the locals feel, would lead to water scarcity in the area.

The two states had entered into an agreement in 1975 for distribution of Indravati water and as per the agreement, Chhattisgarh would get 45,000 million cubic metres water only during monsoon from Orissa side. However, time and again, the Chhattisgarh Government put barriers near the river to draw more water.

When allegations of violation of the agreement by Chhattisgarh were raised, a Joint Water Commission meeting was held in Raipur in 2003 under the chairmanship of Central Water Commission which decided to maintain the earlier agreement and resolve the water problem amicably between the two states.

Later, the Orissa Government declared that it would not provide any extra water to Chhattisgarh keeping in view the State’s needs.

Even after the state’s denial Chhattisgarh recently put sandbags near the river confluence to divert water.

Following this, members of the Janra Bachao Committee urged the Koraput Collector and State Government to intervene.

But amid fresh reports of construction of the barrage, they have threatened to agitate if the State Government did not take any measures.

Meanwhile, Koraput administration has asked the Jagdalpur administration to lift any kind of obstruction near the confluence and has sent a report to the State Government for further action.

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