By Uma Shankar Kar | ENS - BHAWANIPATNA
Published: 13th September 2013 10:37 AM
Last Updated: 13th September 2013 10:37 AM
A high-level bridge over river Hati near Junagarh, passing through NH-201, has become the need of the hour. As the bridge over the river gets submerged during flood every year, a proposal to construct a high bridge at Junagarh is pending since long.
Hati is used as the main discharge channel of the Indravati irrigation system. After generation of power, water is discharged into Hati through Mangalpur barrage and finally the water reaches river Tel.
Heavy rain in the catchment areas causes flood in Hati leading to inundation of the road level bridge at Junagarh and disruption of vehicular traffic along NH-201. It is a regular feature.
It was proposed during 1991-92 to transfer the then PWD road from Jaipatna to Kesinga to Indravati Project so that the road, including the high bridge over Hati, could be constructed. However, it did not materialise.
The bridge is now the responsibility of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). After several agitations by people, the NHAI through a private construction agency began work on a high-level bridge in February 2010 at an estimated cost of Rs 10.1 crore. Length of the proposed bridge was 98 metres.
An agreement was signed between the NHAI and the construction agency and the work was scheduled to be completed by February 2012.
However, the construction agency abandoned work half way after spending Rs 1.80 crore. During examination, it was found that unless the bridge length is stretched to 1250 metres, the flooding problem would continue whenever water would be released to river Hati.
Last week, members of Odisha Krushi O Gramin Mazdoor Sangh staged a road blockade at Bhawanipatna demanding floating of fresh tender for construction of 1250-metre bridge instead of 98-metre bridge and blacklisting of the construction agency.
Led by president of the organisation Biranchi Narayan Panda, they picketed near Hati bridge at Junagarh. They continued the road blockade for three hours till the district administration officials intervened.
A memorandum addressed to the Governor and Director General of Road Development was sent demanding early intervention.
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