BERHAMPUR: The State Government should try and make optimal utilisation of the Orissa's share of Vansadhara waters though it shelved the project to link the Vansadhara and the Rushilya in south Orissa, said Union Minister of State for Rural Development Chadrasekhar Sahu.

Mr Sahu, who was a frontline advocator of the river linking project, felt that river linking would have been the best way to tap Vansadhara water. The government opened a survey and investigation office for the river-linking project at Gudari in Rayagada district.

It proposed to link the rivers by digging a tunnel at an estimated cost of Rs. 911 crores.

But, the Central Water Commission (CWC) felt that the tunnel would cost more and that it would not be feasible and viable. The government then decided to shelve the project.

Alternatively, the government proposed to construct a dam and a reservoir on the Vansadhara at Minajhol near Gudari, which would also be connected to the Sana Nadi of Rayagada district. On completion, the project would irrigate 30,000 hectares in Rayagada and Gajapati district besides generating some 50 Mega Watts.

Mr. Sahu said that the new project should not be delayed.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail