Kotpad, The Joura River in Kotpad block has dried up after Chhattisgarh illegally diverted its water by placing sandbags. Due to this, 11 irrigation pump motors have stopped functioning, and over hundreds of hectares of farmland have been affected, causing paddy crops to wither due to water scarcity. Farmers are in distress as the Odisha government has failed to stop Chhattisgarh from stealing water.
Odisha’s Negligence Sparks Outrage
The Odisha Water Resources Department was responsible for preventing the sandbag blockade at Joura River’s mouth, yet it failed to act. This lack of intervention has led to growing public resentment, with locals criticizing the government for neglecting farmers’ interests and allowing Chhattisgarh to benefit at their expense.
Farmers Suffer Heavy Losses
Due to the depleting water levels in Joura River, 11 farmers’ pump motors burned out, leaving their fields dry. The affected farmers include:
Chaitanya Bhatra
Gopal Majhi
Phuldas Pujari
Phuldas Bhatra
Tulsi Ram Bairagi
Baldev Samarth
Dhanurjay Bhatra
Prem Saan
Sahadev Samarth
Gupta Ganda
Muna Samarth
Despite repeated complaints, the Odisha government has not intervened, leaving locals feeling betrayed. The “Save Joura Movement” strongly condemned the government’s inaction, stating that ignoring farmers’ plight was akin to a betrayal.
Chhattisgarh Benefits While Odisha Farmers Suffer
As water levels in Joura River decrease, **Indravati River in