REMENDA (BARGARH): The traditional water harvesting structures (TWHS), which were the major source of irrigation, are dying a silent death.
The Bada Kata (TWHS) spread over 89 acres in Remenda village under Bheden block of the district is among the several such water bodies that face extinction due to neglect. All the TWHSs in the district are victims of administrative apathy.
There are three types of TWHSs - Kata, Muda and Bandha and the network of TWHSs used to help irrigate large tracts of land. Mostly promoted by Kulta community, which is into farming, the tanks were the lifeline of the village economy. It was indeed water for people and water by people.
But, advent of piped water in villages and neglect saw the TWHSs turn into dumping grounds. All drains ended in the water bodies gradually making those unfit for human use, aquatic plants like hyacinths too spread roots and those were gradually rendered unfit for animal consumption.
Old timers recall how Bad Kata irrigated 500 acres of land round the year and its aquatic life attracted migratory birds. After the advent of Hirakud Dam and irrigation through canal, the ‘Kata’ was left out.
Chamara Meher of the village said, the TWHS was under the control of gram panchayat and it was auctioned for pisciculture. Nearly 15 years later, it is lying in a state of neglect, he added. Repeated requests to district administration to revive the water body has gone in vain.
Another TWHS, Junha Bandh spread over 30 acres in the village, shares similar fate. Recently, a delegation of the villagers called on Bargarh Collector Anjan Kumar Manik requesting him to renovate and revive the water bodies. Meanwhile, with the mercury breaching past records the villagers fear the worst, particularly for the livestock, their prime source of income.
While people across the globe will be celebrating World Water Day on Tuesday with the theme, ‘Better water, better jobs’, to remind people about the significance of fresh water and promote sustainability for fresh water resources management, Bargarh’s water bodies find no saviours.
District Panchayat Officer, Prashant Kumar Satpathy said, there is no proposal to renovate or revive the water bodies. If gram panchayat brings a proposal, will forward it to the State Government for required funding, he added.