Whose dam water is it?

 

 

Navin Patnaik’s government is facing the anguish of farmers who were protesting against the use of the Hirakud dam water by industrial houses. The government, without giving weightage to the demand of the farmers, kept signing MoUs with industrial houses, giving them the authority to use the dam water.

Hirakud Dam is the first post-Independence multipurpose project inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru. The purpose behind the construction of the dam was irrigation, power generation and flood control. Distribution of water to the industries was never part of the plan. According to official sources, the project provides 1,55,635 ha of Kharif and 1,08,385 ha of Rabi irrigation of Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bolangir, and Subarnpur and generates 307.5 MW power. "The government allowing the industries to take water from the dam puts agriculture at stake," said Lingaraj, Farmer Leader and Convenor of Coordination Committee of Farmers.

The farmers raised the issue through various agitations. Last year, they staged a 15 km long human chain in protest against the government's decision. On November 6, 2007, about 30,000 farmers assembled at the dam site to protest but were beaten up by the police. The lathi charge on the farmers, however, took a different twist in state politics when the Congress attempted to make it an issue in the ensuing elections. The party organised a huge farmers' rally on December 2, to show solidarity with agriculturists. "The present alliance government is for the wealthy and industrialists, not for farmers and common men," Ajay Maken said.

The BJP is also trying to get political mileage over the issue. BJP State President Suresh Pujari expressed displeasure over the lathi charge and asked the government to take immediate measures on the renovation of the canal system of Hirakud dam.

The NCP and Left parties are not far behind. The leaders are constantly meeting the farmers. "We oppose industrialisation at the cost of agriculture," said NCP leader Siddhartha Das.

CM Navin Patnaik has now declared a package of Rs 200 crores for the renovation of the dam. "This is a tough task for the CM as the assembly election is not far away," a senior BJD leader opined.