Odisha to construct barrage on Jhanjhabati River

Jeypore: In ongoing conflict between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh over the Polavaram project, the State government is planning to construct a barrage on the Jhanjhabati River for irrigation.

A source said that the mega project will be constructed at an expenditure of Rs 106 crore focusing Narayanpatna and Lakshmipur blocks in Maoist-infested district Koraput. It is likely to affect the Jhanjhavathi Medium Irrigation Project in Andhra.

According to reports, Odisha’s Water Resources Department will construct the 106-meter-long barrage near Chintaguda village under Narayanpatna block in Koraput. The barrage will have 12 gates (10-meter length and 6-meter width in size) through which the water will be released. While the target has been set for irrigation in total 2546 hectare, 1909.76-hectare land can be irrigated during Kharif season after completion of the project benefitting around 127 villages under Narayanpatna block and more than 10 panchayats under Lakshmipur block in the district.

The project was planned 15 years ago for constructing barrage on the Jhanjhabati River. While Rayagada district administration had proposed the project, Koraput district administration took initiatives for its execution in 2014, said Minor Irrigation Executive Engineer Subash Chandra Sethi.

Reports said that the water resources department in Jeypore had conducted a survey in June last year. Subsequently, the necessary paperwork was expedited for construction of the barrage.

While both the Polavaram project on the Godavari River and Rubber dam project on the Jhanjhabati River are sub-judice, the proposed project is assumed as a masterstroke by the Odisha Government to the neighbouring State.

Notably, the 4370 length-Rubber dam project was built at expenses of Rs 600 crore on the Jhanjhabati/Jhanjhavathi River in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh.