Channel hope

Cuttack, Nov. 23: Orissa’s largest fresh water lake — Ansupa — some 70km from Cuttack, is set to receive a Rs 6.41-crore makeover.

The first phase of the revival project, which focuses on removing the lake’s silt load, has already begun. The finance commission is funding the first phase.

“The Orissa government plans to bring both aquatic life and tourists back to Ansupa by clearing the silt, by opening an existing channel (to facilitate entry of water) and planting trees to check soil erosion in the banks,” said chief secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy while launching the project on Wednesday.

“Developing eco-tourism here is also an integral part of the project,” Tripathy added.

Till few years ago, Ansupa enjoyed a picture perfect setting between Saranda and Bishnupur hills on the outskirts of the subdivisional town of Athagarh. In winter, it was an asylum for migratory birds and a tourist site.

But the largest fresh-water lake suffered a slow death due to severe erosion around the catchment area, siltation and proliferation of algae and hyacinth plants. The 40-30ft deep lake is now 10ft in depth in best parts.

The new project, which is being implemented by the District Rural Development Agency, Cuttack, under Ansupa Area Development Scheme, envisages re-opening the Kanulanala, a channel on the south-east side, which linked Ansupa with the Mahanadi till an embankment was raised over Mahanadi more than a decade ago.

Before the embankment was raised, floodwater used to enter Ansupa from the south-eastern side through Kabulanala, driving away weeds through a stream known as Hulhullanala, which runs into the Mahanadi in the south-western side.

“Opening the channel would revive the natural process of de-weeding,” said Mohammad Aqdash, the additional project director of the development agendy. The embankment had scotched this natural process, as water entering into the lake could not leave.

Experts add that heavy silting had set in due to soil erosion from Saranda hill on the lake’s western side and Bishnupur hill on the north-eastern side due to deforestation. “Converting the silted area into paddy fields only added to the woes,” said Chittaranjan Das, the consultant for the Ansupa Area Development Scheme.