HNP urges President for a detailed study on Hirakud reservoir

Sambalpur, June 21 (UNI) Expressing concern over supply of water to industries from Hirakud reservoir, members of Hirakhand Nagarika Parishad (HNP) have urged President A P J Abdul Kalam to order for a detailed study of the reservoir.

The HNP, a socio-cultural organisation of western Orissa, in a letter to the President appealed that an expert committee be constituted to undertake a study on the Hirakud reservoir.

They apprehended that power generation and irrigation for Ravi crop would be severely affected if water of the reservoir was shared with the existing and upcoming industries in the area.

HNP Presideent Bhagabata Prasad Nanda further added the water holding capacity of the dam was being reduced every year due to massive siltation adding that any supply of water from the dam to the industries would be at the cost of the farmers.

The HNP appealed to the President to personally look into the matter for the greater interest of the entire farming community of the command area in western Orissa.

Dam Project Chief Engineer B K Mahapatra said there is no dearth of water for irrigation or power generation from October 2005 to till date (June 2006). The dam, he said, was quite capable to supply water to more industries even after meeting the requirement of power generation and irrigation in the command area.

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