Chairman, Bastar Development Authority, Lakheshwar Baghel has expressed serious concern over depleting water level of Indravati river and he blamed the Odisha government and urged Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to personally intervene into the matter as the river is the lifeline for poverty-hit Bastar.
Lakheshwar while talking to The Pioneer said that Baghel had been taking the matter seriously and had instructed the Engineer-in-Chief of state to take immediate step whatever best could be done on the part of Chhattisgarh state to save Indravati.
The immediate step could be the de-silting of Jora Nullah because of which the river water is taking a reverse turn into the Odisha state, Lakheshwar informed.
He further informed that “a complete solution to the revival of Indravati was actually not in the hands of Chhattisgarh government alone as it is interstate issue and Odisha is not executing on the agreement it had agreed upon and thus Chhattisgarh government had also written a letter to the central tribunal in this regard seeking an amicable solution”, he added.
In charge minister of the Bastar region, Kawasi Lakhma and MLA Vikram Mandavi were also among the delegation which met the CM to drew attention on revival of Indravati river, Lakheshwar informed.
Commenting on ongoing foot march of the social activists and citizens of Bastar to save Indravati river, Lakheshwar said it was appreciable that citizens are aware enough and have launched a movement for a good cause but we are helpless because the matter comes under interstate dispute.
Meanwhile, the foot-march launched by social activists and residents of Bastar with a motive to revive Indravati, the lifeline river of Bastar region entered twelfth day on Sunday.
In a bid to provide a new lease of life to the Indravati river, a group of local residents and social activists of the region, had launched a foot-march (Padyatra) from Bhejapadar village situated along Chhattisgarh-Odisha border from where the river makes its way into Chhattisgarh.
The marchers are also demanding from the state government to talk to Odisha government for releasing water as per the water agreement between the two states. This release of water to the Indravati river would then be able to cater the day-to-day need of water for Bastar residents who are also urging Chhattisgarh government to construct a permanent structure on the Jora Nullah which is pending for years.
The water level in the Indravati river is depleting with the onset of summers and the citizens of Bastar are facing scarcity of water not only for their Rabi crop but also for their daily use as well.
