Bhubaneswar: With the onset of monsoon in Odisha, many residents of villages under Banki Sub-division in Cuttack district and Gunupur in Rayagada district are having sleepless nights. They are worried a lot as embankments have been weak and are without stone packing at many places.
The embankment along Mahanadi river from Baideswara to Bhagipur and Botalama to Khandiabandha in Banki is in precarious condition. When the river gets flood water, there are breaches in the embankment and villages become waterlogged. Villagers blamed the government apathy and poor quality of work carried out by contractors for the weak embankment.
“River embankments are in very poor condition. This apart, contractor is working as per their wish. No one from the local administration has visited the place. We demand that the administrative officials to visit the spot and take concrete step,” said Baikuntha Behera, a resident of Kurumachaini.
“Embankments are very poor and ever year this village gets flooded. The stone packing is of poor quality,” alleged Shailendra Rout, a resident of Mukundapur.
Refuting the charges, Assistant Engineer of Irrigation department, Banki, Shrimad Kumar Tripathy said, “Embankments have been strengthened. However, the work at Kurumi is yet to be completed as quality stones were not available. This year we will expedite the work and finish it on time.”
Similar condition can be seen at Limapadar and Khalagumuda villages of Rayagada district. Embankment along Bansadhara river is in a dangerous condition following which villagers of Limapadar, Gumuda and Derigaon are worried a lot.
“Due to soil erosion on the embankment the river has come closer to the village. The Assembly Estimate Committee visited the place and assured construction of embankment, but nothing has been done yet. If the government does not resolve the issue, we will stage agitation,” said Subas Panda, a resident of Limapadar.
“Though the issue persists no one is listening to us. We demand immediate construction of embankment,” said Nrusingha Padhi, a farmer.
When contacted Assistant Engineer of Gunupur Water Resources department, Shraharee said, “Rs 94.25 crore has been sanctioned for the embankment. Once the funds are released, the work will begin. For temporary purposes we have kept sand packets ready and opened flood control room.”
from Odisha – OTV https://ift.tt/2JCTuvV
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