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‘Jal Sanjog Yatra’ from March 5

BERHAMPUR: Different organisations of south Orissa have come together to organise a march from Kashinagar in Gajapati district to Bhubaneswar in March demanding linking of Vansadhara, Rushikulya and Mahanadi rivers of Orissa.

This march in support of river linking in the State has been named ‘Jal Sanjog Yatra’ and it would start from the banks of Vansadhara river at Kasinagar in Gajapati district on March 5. As a symbolic move the water of the Vansadhara river would be taken in a vessel by the marchers. They would mix the water of Rushikulya river with it near Tara Tarini hill shrine to symbolise linking of these two rivers. The marchers would mix the water of Daya river which comes out from the Mahanadi with it near Dhauli in Khurda district. This Yatra would conclude in Bhubaneswar on March 13. A memorandum demanding linking of these three rivers and their mixed up water would be handed over to the Orissa Governor.

The former deputy speaker of the Assembly, Ram Chandra Panda is taking lead of this Yatra which would pass through the areas that would benefit from the river linking project. Organisations like Rushikulya Bachao Manch (RBM), Mahendragiri Surakhya Manch, Berhampur Nagarika Manch, Ganjam Zilla Vikas Manch, Jagrat Bharat, Dakshin Orissa Sahitya Samity etc would take part in this march in support of river linking.

Speaking to newsmen on Thursday, Mr. Panda said since past many years demand was on for this river linking project. The State government had also come up with a river linking project between Vansadhara and Rushikulya rivers few years back, which was shelved. According to Mr. Panda this river linking project is the only way to save water scarce areas of south Orissa and to reduce regular floods in the Mahanadi. The RBM had also prepared a detailed viability report of the project.

As per proposal the Subalaya barrage project can be used to transfer surplus water of Mahanadi to Rushikulya. A memorandum to this effect had been submitted to the Central government by the Orissa government in the year 2000 and in 2003. Even the national water development agency had acknowledged that the project was viable, Mr. Panda said. He blamed the State government for not pursuing the project seriously.

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