Questions have been raised in various quarters regarding the foundation stone laying of the 600 MW Upper Indravati Pumped Storage Power Project to be constructed in Kalahandi district at a cost of about Rs 4060 crore. Although the foundation stone of this project, which is considered one of the largest power projects in the state, has been laid, there is dissatisfaction among the locals, public representatives and the media that no prior information was given to them.
According to reports, the foundation stone plaque of the project has been installed at the foot of Udayagiri hill near Ranibahal village. With an estimated cost of about Rs 4060 crore, this is an important project of the Odisha Hydropower Corporation (OHPC).
As per the project, 600 MW of electricity will be generated by bringing water from the Indravati reservoir through a tunnel. Later, the water will be returned to the reservoir with the help of high-capacity pumps. It is said that this project will play a special role in increasing the power generation capacity of the state in the future.
However, various questions are being raised by the public regarding the fact that the local MLAs, public representatives, administrative officers, villagers and the media were not informed during the foundation stone laying ceremony of such a huge project. Whether this was just an administrative process or the program was restricted for some reason, there is no clarity on this.
Local MLA Pradeep Dishari has expressed dissatisfaction over this incident and has said that he will bring this issue to the attention of the Chief Minister through a letter. Similarly, Kalahandi MP Malvika Devi is also said to have expressed dissatisfaction over the administrative system.
The question of the locals is, if this is a historic and much-awaited project for Kalahandi, then why was the foundation stone laying ceremony not made public? Was there any open discussion or public consultation with the affected villagers? Many such questions have now become a topic of discussion.
According to reports, President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi laid the foundation stone of the project virtually from a program in Mayurbhanj. However, questions are being raised about the lack of any large-scale public program in Kalahandi and the lack of information.
According to local sources, the foundation stone was unveiled at around 5 pm in the presence of some officers and employees of OHPC.
However, a detailed official clarification is yet to come from OHPC or the concerned administration on all these issues. Once the clarification comes, the real picture of the incident will emerge.
