Tit for tat: Orissa to build barrage on upper stream of Mahendratanaya.

In a tit-for-tat move against its Andhra Pradesh counterpart, the Orissa Government has decided to construct a barrage on the upper stream of river Mahendratanya. "We have approached the Planning Commission. Once the proposal is cleared, the Government will go ahead for construction of the barrage," said Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal in the Assembly on Tuesday.In reply to an adjournment motion, Samal said the Government would go to any extent to refrain Andhra Pradesh from going ahead with the project. "If necessary, the Government will once again knock on the doors of the Supreme Court on this issue," he said, adding that Rs 38 crore has been earmarked for this purpose. "Secretary, Water Resources has already written a letter to his counterpart. But we have been waiting for the reply of the Andhra Pradesh Government on this issue," he said, adding that the money would be arranged from NABARD.
Samal further said it had come to the notice of the Government that Andhra Pradesh was planning construction of a weir on river Mahendratanaya and dam nearby valley in Andhra Pradesh. Detailed survey of the proposed project with reference to the likely submergence of part area of Gajapati district has not yet been received by the Orissa Government.He further said the Orissa Government had already urged its Andhra Pradesh counterpart to stop the construction of its project. "The State Government has already requested the Andhra Pradesh Government to stop the construction till the clearance is obtained from the Government of Orissa and Government of India as required under the Inter State Agreement made in 1962.

Regarding irrigation projects proposed by the State Government upstream of Mahendratanya a project has been proposed near village Kaithapadar with a storage reservoir to irrigate 7,490 hectare in Paralakhemundi and Kashinagar and Rayagada block of Gajapati district. Two diversion weirs across river Jalanga and Mahendratanya are proposed for instant utilisation of water an interim measure. Ultimately this project on Mahendratanaya will become an integral part of the proposed Lower Vansadhara river.Earlier, participating in the discussion, Leader of Opposition JB Patnaik and other Congress members Trinath Sahu, Nalinikanta Mohanty and Sitakanta Mohapatra demanded that before Andhra Pradesh goes ahead with the project, Orissa should construct the barrage. "If this would not happen, around 3 lakh people will be affected. A dam should be set up 30 km above Parlakhemundi. Power can also be generated from this project," leader of Opposition Patnaik said. Ruling party members also urged the Government to take concrete steps on this issue