Berhampur: With the dried up of rivers, reservoirs in Ganjam district has renewed the demand for linking of Mahanadi-Rushikulya river,South Odisha Development Group(SODG), a congregation of intellectuals and retired bureaucrats,has urged the chief minister Mohon charan majhi to extend the National Waterway-5(NW) upto Rushikulya river.Balakrushna panda,president of SODG in a letter addressed to CM and submitted to RDC(SD)today has stated that due to siltation the reservoirs and rivers flowing the in the district releases the water to the sea,since past many years,which resulted in water scarcity.Added to it,this year inadequate rain has aggravated the situation,which may minimised with the linking up of Rushikulya with Mahanandi and extend of NW.He stated the southern districts,particularly the Ganjam district is water deficient and drinking water in Berhampur city is always a challenge.Now,the industrial set up coming up in and around Gopalpur and Berhampur need industrial Water.As such the agriculture economy is jeopardised in Ganjam district because of poor irrigation facilities.Therefore, it is requested that the National Waterways-5 which has been extended up to Paradip and Talcher, may be extended up to river Bahuda via Rushikulya River.Through this waterways the Paradip Port and Talcher would be connected to Gopalpur Port and upcoming port at Pati Sonepur.The waterways can help in fishing, generating solar power and creating tourism opportunities in addition to providing water for irrigation,portable water to Greater Berhampur and Industrial need of the industrial corridor.It would also provide cheap transportation through waterways.Along this alignment the National Water Development Agency (NWDA)have made the preliminary survey of this canal.It is also in the in the proposal of Odisha government to have the intra-state river connectivity from Mahanadhi to Rushikulya along this alignment.In the recent past,all members of Parliament from Odisha had requested the Union Water Resources Minister to carry out this inter linking of Rivers,which pending for consideration.In this juncture,the initiation of chief minister in this regard,would benefit the southern region,Panda added.
