CUTTACK: After the first `gherry' embankment at Abhinav Bidanasi on the river bank of Kathjodi, there is a plan to construct yet another embankment of similar nature on the river Mahanadi to reclaim an area of 2,700 hectares on the eastern limits of the millennium city.

The town planners since long have been eyeing to reclaim vast stretches of land on the Mahanadi south that have been engulfed by riverbed and are constantly under flood-threat.

The chief engineer of Lower Mahanadi Basin has submitted a proposal for construction of the embankment of about four km to reclaim the agricultural land, part of which has already submerged in the riverbed.

Drainage system

The Rs.11 crore-project also envisages renovating a major drainage system with sluice gates that will solve the perennial waterlogging problem of the city. The proposal also includes improvement of capital embankment that would lighten the traffic jam of the congested city, according to official sources.

This will be the second `gherry' embankment in the city after the first one that came up in the early 80's reclaiming an area of over 3000 hectares at Abhinav Bidanasi. The Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) developed a residential colony here that is now being served as a satellite city where over 2 lakh people are currently residing.

The second gherry embankment will be constructed from village Bhadimul, behind Central Rice Research Institute to Tanarapa Sasan of Cuttack Sadar. About ten revenue villages and several hamlets coming under these areas are under constant flood threat.

The improved embankment will also serve as a bypass to connect the National Highway-5 with Cuttack-Paradeep road to lessen the volume of the traffic in the city.

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