Historic Coast Canal to be renovated.

The historic Coast Canal, abandoned for years, is likely to be operational soon with clearance from the Ministry of Surface Transport for renovation after discussions in Parliament. The Union Government has approved a budget outlay of Rs 1,526 crore with a recurring expenditure Rs 59 crore annually.

BJP MP Kharabela Swain following approval of this mega project, besides expressing his thanks to the Ministry has also made certain observations. Seeking speedy implementation of project he observed that encroachments should be cleared since by shrimp farming and other activities at several places the canal has been filled due to dormancy and non-dredging. “There is no sign of any canal after a long unused period. The canal land at several places have been encroached by shrimp farming and other activities,” Swain pointed to the Ministry in Parliament, demanding the land which has been encroached by the mafia in the shrimp farming sector should be recovered and State Government should take stringent action.

He further stated that the dredging would enhance drainage and urged for development of embankment, adequate numbers of small bridges over the canal to ferry cattle for farming and grazing activities and sluice gates to check saline water ingress from sea towards land. He urged for a meticulous planning before undertaking work with regards to the bridge and observed “in future whosoever wanted to cross in front of his village will raise some sort of embankment if all these are not made in a planned manner.”

“The embankment on either side could be developed as Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana road,” he suggested. “The region was full of jungles when it was made which provided an alternate safe passage for trade and transport. The renovation of canal issue although it affects my constituency yet is in fact an issue of the State as well as country. It is one which has been in my priority agenda ever since I found opportunity to represent people of this constituency. I had always raised the issue in different occasions. Since the issue is has been cleared it is certainly a matter of happiness for me as well as my constituency people,” reacted Swain.He too urged the Ministry for speedy implementation of the project with a time frame.“You should fix a time frame by which the project should be implemented else it will remain in paper for eternity and won’t be implemented at all,” he appealed on the Parliament floor.
At a cost of Rs 45 lakh the canal was dug connecting Guakhali to Matei at Charbatia under food for work programme between 1880 and 1885 when region was hit by a severe famine. Although purpose was to provide relief to starving populace of the region immediately yet the water passage had opened ample of opportunities including irrigation besides communication. After opening of railway links between Howrah and Cuttack the water passage lost significance considerably.