May 26th 2024.
Pattamundai, a small town in Kendrapara district, was once blessed with the Gobari river, a lifeline for its residents. However, the river is now facing the threat of extinction and desperately needs to be revived. It serves as a grim reminder of its glorious past, struggling to survive in its present state.
In the past, the Gobari river was a boon for the local farmers as it provided irrigation for farmlands in nine panchayats. This led to a bountiful harvest of various vegetables and paddy during the Rabi season. The river was not just a source of water for farming, but it also held a deep connection with the daily lives and livelihoods of the people. They would use its water for drinking, completing their chores, and irrigating their fields. It was rightfully known as the lifeline of the residents in Kendrapara district.
However, with the passage of time, the river has fallen into a state of neglect. It flows through five panchayats of Pattamundai block and the Pattamundai Municipality area, but it has now been left to be consumed by wild grass and weeds. This is due to the careless dumping of waste by locals in the river. The residents are understandably upset with the lack of effort from the state government to revive the river.
The Gobari river originates from the Brahmani river and flows for over 30 kilometers before merging with the Bay of Bengal. In the past, it was a perennial river, just like the Brahmani, and was used for transportation of goods and passengers. However, its fate took a turn for the worse when the connecting channel between Gobari and Brahmani was blocked during the construction of Cuttack-Chandbali road in 1860. This resulted in a reduced flow of water into the Gobari river, causing it to accumulate silt.
Currently, the river is buried for a stretch of 16 kilometers from Pattamundai to Gandakia. This has led to some individuals taking advantage and encroaching on the riverbed, constructing houses and further hindering the flow of water. As a consequence, thousands of acres of farmland on both sides of the river are now barren due to lack of irrigation. This has greatly impacted the social and economic growth of the people, leading many to migrate in search of livelihood opportunities.
The once thriving agricultural community has lost interest in farming due to the deteriorating condition of the river. The lack of awareness among the villagers and the apathetic attitude of departmental authorities have only worsened the situation. Although the state government and district administration are aware of the issue, no concrete steps have been taken to address it. In the past, there were some efforts made to revive the river, but unfortunately, the project was abandoned.
The farmers in the district continue to demand for the revival of the Gobari river, but their pleas have yet to be heard. When contacted, the drainage engineer Nihar Routray stated that the higher authorities have been informed of the situation and work to revive the river will begin once approval is received. It is our hope that the concerned authorities take immediate action to save this once thriving lifeline of Pattamundai.
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