Historical pond Asha Sagar on verge of extinction

BHAWANIPATNA: The historical pond Asha Sagar here is on the verge of extinction due to lack of maintenance. Even several parts of the pond have been encroached upon by unscrupulous people while Kalahandi district administration shows no interest for its renovation. Set up in between 1860 and 1873 by the then King Uditpratap Deo in memory of his younger queen Asha Kumari Devi, the oldest pond of the town was constructed over Ghodaghat nullah covering an area of 106 acres. The pond’s water storage area was 99 acres with 40 feet depth. The pond served as lifeline of its people who depended on them for their daily needs even during summer. Later, Asha Sagar helped in irrigating more than 200 acres of agriculture farm set up at Arkabaheli in 1946. 

But over the years, as the town expanded and its population increased, the water body was exploited for all purposes leading to its pollution and encroachment. Now, water from the pond is not suitable for human use while its size has been reduced to 30 acres with full of weeds, silt and garbages. Unfortunately, the pond, which had added to the beauty of the town, has been turned into a dumping yard with the civic body releasing drain water into it.  

Sources said after several demands, the State Government had sanctioned `one crore in 2006-07 under the Revised Long Term Action Plan (RLTAP) to renovate the water body and the Minor Irrigation (MI) department had provided `two crore in 2009-10. Though the MI Division of Bhawanipatna had taken up the renovation, poor and haphazard work spoiled its beauty and later it helped the encroachers  grab lands near the pond. 

Locals alleged that though the Government had provided `10 lakh in 2012-13 and ` three lakh in 2013-14 from the Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) to the MI Division for revival of pond, the move was merely an eyewash as its banks are under encroachment in Arkabaheli, Odia Bangtipada and Kali Mandirpada. Meanwhile, the MI Division has floated a tender for its renovation at an estimated cost of `2.1 crore. Bhawanipatna Municipality sources said the civic body has mooted a proposal for beautification of the pond along with a park and boating facilities.