Odisha: BJP to skip, Congress to protest CM occasion over Ib river barrage concern

By Express News Service
ROURKELA:  With a couple of hours left earlier than the Chief Minister steps into the district to inaugurate a slew of initiatives price Rs 4800 crore in Sundargarh district, opposition BJP has determined to provide the occasion a go by because the Congress will likely be protesting his go to.

Upset that the Ib river barrage proposal has not been talked about within the listing of upcoming proposals to be launched by the CM on Tuesday, each events expressed concern over the aggravation of drawback for folks struggling to get getting piped water to their properties. 

Ib river is the one supply of piped water for Sundargarh city which has nearly dried up earlier than summer time. However, a proposal to assemble a barrage on the river has been gathering mud. 

Sundargarh MLA Kusum Tete of BJP stated in 2013, the Water Resources division had proposed to assemble a low peak bridge-cum-barrage on the river and a hoop highway alongside its banks.

However, the venture will not be included within the listing of ventures to be inaugurated by CM Naveen Patnaik. Enraged, Tete stated she wouldn’t attend the Chief Minister’s perform. 

“I had discussed the matter with Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Pratap Jena on February 10. Even as the Odisha government remains indecisive on the project which is also envisaged to meet the irrigation needs of farmers in Sundargarh and Talasara block, its Chhattisgarh counterpart has built several barrages over the river choking its flow in the district,” Tete stated.  

Activist Suru Mishra stated besides monsoon, the river stays dry all year long and the state of affairs turns grim in summer time. Further delay in development of barrage on Ib river would irritate the sufferings of the city residents.

Water shortage stays a pertinent concern within the city. The Public Health and Engineering Organisation provides piped water to households for a restricted interval throughout summer time. The Sundargarh unit of Congress too has introduced to protest the Chief Minister’s go to over the identical concern.