Sambalpur: Two Barrages to be Constructed on Mahanadi, State Government Orders Survey
The proposed Binakhandi and Faskuda bridge and barrage projects have remained in the files. The project, which was proposed more than ten years ago, had yet to move forward. However, after the state government changed, the “Save Mahanadi” campaign began.
Sambalpur: On Tuesday, the state government sent a letter to the Sambalpur Irrigation Department regarding the construction of two barrages with bridges on the Mahanadi River. The Sambalpur Irrigation Department informed that they have been instructed to conduct a survey for the construction of these barrages and the development of Ayodhya Sarovar in Sambalpur.
Details of the Proposed Barrage and Bridge Projects
The Sambalpur Irrigation Department’s SDO stated that the direction to conduct a survey for the construction of bridges with barrages on the Mahanadi River arrived on Tuesday. The state irrigation department issued this directive. The survey will run from the Mahanadi Railway Bridge (near Mahanadi Bridge-1) to Deogaon. Two bridges with barrages will be built, most likely in the Maneswar and Deogaon areas, and no families will be displaced. Similarly, the Ayodhya Sarovar in Sambalpur will be developed. A barrage will be constructed there to encourage tourism. The demand for the construction of bridges with barrages in Sambalpur city has been long-standing.
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Previous Proposals and Political Context
This demand was raised repeatedly for water issues and tourism development in the city. In 2014, the Sambalpur Irrigation Department proposed a bridge and barrage in the Binakhandi and Faskuda areas to the state government. The proposal for construction included a budget of 43 crores. However, it did not become operational. In 2019, the Sambalpur Irrigation Department proposed a bridge and barrage for a budget of 45 crores. Despite surveys, construction did not begin, becoming a major issue in the last election. The state government was surrounded by the Sambalpur BJP over this matter.
If the BJP wins power in the state, they have promised to take immediate action in this regard. They are said to have taken steps in this direction since gaining power. During the off-season, the Mahanadi River experiences a water crisis. The state government has claimed that the problem stems from the construction of more than 32 barrages in Chhattisgarh. However, the state did not construct barrages on the Mahanadi River, resulting in a conflict between the two states.
