Watco: Watco building water reservoir in Sikharchandi without ASI nod: RTI | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Water Corporation of Odisha (Watco) has not obtained the necessary no objection certificate (NOC) from Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Bhubaneswar circle, before building the alleviated water reservoir in the foothills of Sikharchandi on the city’s outskirts.
The revelation was made in an RTI reply filed by one Pratap Mohanty, a native of Kendrapada, who has asked ASI to provide a copy of the NOC issued to the authorities concerned for construction of master balance reservoir in Sikharchandi.
In the reply, the ASI stated that “no such NOC/permission has been granted by Archaeological Survey of India, Bhubaneswar circle. The ASI Bhubaneswar circle has also stated that no such permission was given for the redevelopment of Sikharchandi Temple and its periphery”. According to a report of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi, Sikharchandi Temple is a religious place with its existence dating back to 6th to 7th century AD. The ASI has also documented the site in its Indian Archaeology, a Review, 1966-67.
The Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) has allotted four acres of land to Watco in the foothills of Sikharchandi for construction of a master balance reservoir.
The Idco, which has been allowed to allot the land for industrial purpose, in its allotment letter to the Watco clearly mentioned that it should obtain necessary permissions from authorities concerned before going for construction of the reservoir. Watco chief executive officer Pradipta Swain said they have applied for NOC from the ASI and it is in process. “This is a mega project and needs to be completed on time. It will benefit over 4 lakh people of the city,” Swain claimed. Local residents alleged that Watco has been flouting norms while taking up the construction work. “Sikharchandi is rich in biodiversity, but the authorities have cut down all trees to take up this project,” said Sachin Mohapatra, a resident of Daruthenga.
Last year, Sachin, along with local populace, had launched a campaign to save Sikharchandi and had also reached out to the National Green Tribunal and the Orissa high court with pleas to save the biodiversity rich site.
“There were valuable medicinal plants in the foothills of Sikharchandi but all are gone now,” said Daruthenga sarpanch Tapan Chakrabarty.
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