SAMBALPUR: IN a bid to boost tourism by utilising the water of river Mahanadi, the district administration is planning to construct a new anicut on the river, which flows through the city.
Sambalpur Collector Samarth Verma said the new anicut will be constructed near the second bridge over river Mahanadi connecting Nelson Mandela Chowk near Ring Road in the city with Chaunrpur village. He said the Irrigation department has been instructed to prepare a proposal for the construction work. “The district administration will send the proposal to the State Government for its approval”, Verma said, adding that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been apprised about the proposal and discussions held with Water Resources Minister Niranjan Pujari.
He said around `100 crore will be required for construction of the new anicut. Presently, there is an anicut on the river near Hatpada in the city. The length of the existing anicut is around 1,700 metres while its height from the river bed is around two metres. The reservoir, which was developed after construction of the anicut, is known as ‘Ayodhya Sarovar’, named after the then Governor of Odisha, Ayodhyanath Khosla. The reservoir was developed in the mid 60s by the Irrigation department. Since Hirakud Dam reservoir is situated upstream and water is released only during monsoon, water stored in the Sarovar helps the city’s denizens meet their daily needs.
Verma said beautification of Mahanadi riverside along Ring Road in the city is underway. “The new anicut will be constructed in the downstream of the existing one and it will be higher”, he added. Apart from boosting tourism through introduction of boating facilities, the new reservoir will cater to the drinking water needs of the growing population in the city, the collector said.