Odisha BJP Team Meets Villagers To Be Hit By Andhra's Barrage Project Over Bansadhara

Gajapati: A delegation of BJP today visited some areas in Gajapati district likely to be affected by the construction of a barrage by Andhra Pradesh government over river Bansadhara at Neredi.

The BJP team’s tour to the villages that would be submerged by the barrage comes in the wake of Bansadhara Water Dispute Tribunal (VWDT)’s go-ahead to Andhra Pradesh for construction of barrage over the river at Neredi.

The team comprising party's State vice-president Bhrugu Buxipatra, former MP Jayaram Pangi, Paralakhemundi MLA K Narayan and other district level leaders today reached villages under Kashinagar block in Gajapati and interacted with locals regarding their issues.

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Locals said around 200 acres of farmland would be submerged once the barrage gets functional even as the Andhra Pradesh claimed that the project would affected 106 acres. Neither any officials from Andhra Pradesh nor Odisha government have visited ever to discuss their issues.

BJP State vice-president Bhrugu Buxipatra said that the party would decide the next course of action after discussing with the locals who are going to bear the brunt of the barrage.

The team is also scheduled to meet people to be affected by the project in Rayagada district.

Meanwhile, some engineers and leaders of Andhra Pradesh have reportedly started demarcation work at the proposed construction site even without the knowledge of Odisha officials.

Villages like Sara, Banigaan, Palsingh of Gunupur in Rayagada district would be worst hit. The residents of these villages had protested the construction last week, demanding early compensation and rehabilitation.

They had threatened to halt the project if the government fails to compensate them adequately.

The Bansadhara Water Dispute Tribunal (VWDT) had allowed the Government of Andhra Pradesh to construct the barrage at Neredi over river Bansadhara and directed the Odisha government to acquire land for the project.

Andhra Pradesh would bear the cost of the acquired land, tribunal said.

The tribunal also set certain conditions. As per the directives, the barrage would have a right head sluice through which Andhra can draw 8,000 cusecs water and have a Left Head Sluice (LHS) to cater to the requirements of Odisha below the barrage. Odisha would have to bear the cost of LHS, the tribunal clarified.