SAMBALPUR: THE Chhattisgarh government has further reduced the gap of the only open gate of Kalma Barrage from 40 cm to 20 cm on Monday. The action came a day after Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hinted at moving the Supreme Court as neighbouring State did not heed his request to release more water from the barrage.
The closure of the barrage gates last week had created an uproar downstream of Mahanadi in Odisha and led to mudslinging between BJD and BJP.
The delayed action by the State Government on the issue has made it clear that it was put on back burner after the panchayat polls. The Government swung into action only after the media exposed the moves of the Chhattisgarh Government.
Meanwhile, another barrage has been constructed over river Kelo connecting Mahanadi at Tilaga in Kanaktura gram panchayat under Lakhanpur block of Jharsuguda district. Construction of the 2270 metre long dam was started in 2007 and completed in 2009. It has an intake capacity of 223 cubic metre. Here too, water is being released from a small opening of only one gate but the quantity of water that is being released could not be ascertained.
According to the locals, seven Lift Irrigation Points are lying defunct in Kanaktura and Lahadaga under Lakhanpur block adding to the water woes. Convenor of Water Initiative Odisha (WIO) and Water Activist Ranjan Panda said the issue with Kalma or Kelo centered around lack of coordinated approach by both the States. This is not expected at a time when the river is dying and people are suffering.
Meanwhile, reports from Hirakud Dam said the inflow to the reservoir has dropped to zero even as the outflow is 15,323 cusecs. The water level at the dam stood at 603.77 feet.