Agriculture will not be hit due to supply of water to industries

Bhubaneswar, Sep 14 (UNI) Agricultural activities will not be affected if industrial establishments were given water from the Hirakud reservoir, a technical committee constituted to study on the use of water in the reservoir said in its report.

The committee was constituted by the Orissa government in July to study the impact on agriculture if water was supplied to the industrial houses from the reservoir.

The committee was headed by Central Water Commission Chairman R Jaisalem.

The report of the committee was today discussed at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

At the meeting the Chief Minister directed the officials to supply water to the farmers and initiate steps to meet the drinking water needs of the people on priority basis.

The committee also suggested the government to undertake measures for the desiltation of the reservoir to increase its water holding capacity.

UNI