The district administration on Friday organised a meeting with the Kharasrota Banchao Sangram Samiti (KBSS)activists at Pattamundai in order to listen to their grievances and demands. The forum has been protesting mega piped water project construction work at Barunadiha. The meeting was headed by district Collector Amrit Ruturaj, whereas Sub Collector Niranjan Behera, the tehsildars and BDOs of Pattamundai, Aul and Rajkanika blocks were present while members of KBSS were led by former MLAs Debendra Sharma and Dolagobinda Nayak. "We tried to clear KBSS members' doubts and apprehensions over project. Their concern over water of Kharasrota being diverted to a proposed port or any company is totally wrong," said district Collector Ruturaj. As per multiple reports, for Aul- Kanika mega pipe water project and the mega pipe water project at Barunadiha, only four percent of water is going to be drawn even in lean season.
No ground water exploitation is going to be made for the project and the saline ingress will not occur in the river , clarified Collector.“We informed KBSS members that DPR preparation generally occur in mega pipe water when surface water is going to be drawn. The Water Allocation Committee recommended for preparation of DPR. The RWSS Department later requested the IIT Hyderabad for preparing DPR. The EIC RWSS later made rating of report. Later, the OUAT scientists also made survey about the possible lapse of agriculture due to mega piped water project. The district administration has cleared doubts and concern of locals and KBSS members and their demands are under active consideration. We have appealed them to cooperate district administration for construction of project at Barunadiha, " informed Collector, Ruturaj.
He further said in order to set up instream storage structure at Kharasrota basin , the Engineer –in –Chief (EIC) of Water Resoruces Department has directed Chief Engineer for carrying out survey work with a team of engineers at basin of Kharasrota for feasibility study. As per feasibility report, decision will be taken. However, the KBSS was not satisfied with discussion and stressed on fulfillment of all its demands to end ongoing agitation.