BALASORE: The changing course of river Subarnarekha has been threatening existence of many riverside villages.
With erosion of its banks due to change in course, vast areas of villages like Badakhanpur, Sanakhanpur, Baunsakhanda, Pantei, Kumbhiragadi, Adanga and Kolha in Jaleswar block have already been submerged in the last few years. Sekhabad, Gobarghata, Mankidia, Gobardhanpur, Baiganbadia, Kirtania, Kantapal, Mohammadpur, Asti, Badhapal, Bishnupur, Ramnagar, Rasulpur, Gopalpur, Pathurighata and Rajpur villages await similar fater in near future.
After originating at Piska near Ranchi in Jharkhand, Subarnarekha traverses a long distance through Seraikela Kharsuan and East Singhbhum districts in the State. It flows for 83 kms through West Midnapore district in West Bengal and 79 kms in North Balasore region before joining the Bay of Bengal near Talasari. The total length of the river is 395 kms. Basin of the Subarnarekha is smaller than most multi-State river systems in the country.
Several places in the lower reaches of Subarnarekha, particularly the coastal areas, come under the flood hazard zone. The Subarnarekha had crossed its previous Highest Flood Level (HFL) of 12.2 metres (40 ft) in 2007, surpassing the earlier record of 1997 at Rajghat in Jaleswar. It has witnessed five major flash floods in last one decade.
Locals said in the recent years, there has been a southward bend in the flow of river which has almost swallowed several villages.
During a study by the Irrigation Department in 2014, at least 34 places along the river banks in Jaleswar and Basta blocks were spotted as highly vulnerable and it was decided to take up long term measures to prevent erosion in two phases. Although the technical advisory committee (TAC) has cleared these projects, works on 16 projects worth around Rs 14.10 crore are in progress and 18 others worth Rs 94.36 crore are yet to take off due to delay in sanction of funds.
Last year, a high-level joint delegation of the State and Central Water Resources Department visited the vulnerable areas along the river. The team toured several places and suggested measures like de-siltation of the delta, dredging of the estuary, excavation and widening of the storm water channels and creation of new embankments. The Irrigation Department officials said detailed project report (DPR) has been prepared and would be implemented soon.
Executive Engineer Rajkishore Ghadei said all proposals have been sent to the Government. “In January, the Chief Minister had laid the foundation stone for the sea wall from Kirtania to Chandrabali to be built at a cost of Rs 11.27 crore and for two guard walls along Subarnarekha river at Pantei and Harinakuli at a cost of Rs 4.18 crore and Rs 12.95 crore respectively,” he said, adding that the some other projects are being funded by the Nabard.
