The Biju Janta Dal(BJD) called a 12-hour bandh on Saturday in Chandahandi Block under Nabarangpur district protesting non-approval of integrated multipurpose project over Tel river by the Central Water Commission (CWC).
According to reports, the proposed project is envisaged to create irrigation and hydro-power development. It is proposed to construct a dam across river Tel, a tributary of Mahanadi at the inter-State border of Odisha with Chhattisgarh. The FRL of the dam is proposed at RL 500m with maximum height of dam proposed to be 87 m. It will have a water spread area of 1,330 hectare (ha).
It will also generate hydropower at a power station located on the right side of the Tel river near village Phatki under Chandahandi block.
The total command area of 9,903 ha will be served by the Tel irrigation project in addition to 18 MW of power generation. The State Government has approved the preliminary budget of Rs 847 crore for the establishment of the project . As the CWC has not given its nod, the fate of the project is now uncertain, said the locals.
BJD activists headed by senior BJD leader Pramad Padhy staged demonstration in front of the Block office shouting slongs against the Central Government and later submitted a memorandum to the Block Development Officer addressed to the President. All the business and educational establishments were closed and vehicular traffic remained standstill.