Balangir: Balangir district collector Arimdam Dakua has raised concerns over the renovation of Karangakata, a tank that once provided potable water to local residents here, which is at present in bad shape.

Dakua held discussions with the members of the Karangakata Banchao Samiti (save Karangakata), an outfit that is fighting for the revival and renovation of the water body, on Thursday. The district collector had paid a visit to the tank on Wednesday.

During the discussion with the samiti members the district collector laid emphasis on the revival of the tank. He said that a high-level committee will be constituted to decide how the renovation work of the tank would be taken up.

"We will need a committee which will look after the renovation. An action plan will be prepared. Officials of various departments will meet on 14 May to discuss it", he said.

The collector further said a team would be formed with officials of minor irrigation department, Balangir municipal council, department of rural department, public health department, district administration and members of Karangakata Banchao Samiti.

Convener of Karangakata Banchao Samiti Prashant Mahakud hailed the efforts of the district collector for revival of the age-old water body. "The district collector is highly positive on his approach. We are now hopeful about renovation of the tank for which we have been fighting for quite some time," he said.

The fight for renovation of the tank had reached the court when some organisations led by Karangakata Banchao Samiti (Save Karangakata) filed a petition with the District Legal Aid Service Authority last month.

The water of Karangakata is highly contaminated and polluted with aplenty aquatic plants. Time and again people raised their voices against the apathetic attitude of the district administration, but to no avail. In 2006, the then works minister A.U. Singhdeo had began a beautification drive of the tank with the funds from Public Works Department and local area development fund of some Rajyasabha MPs. A boat club was also inaugurated by the minister for boating in the tank. But the plan fell flat as the tank was not renovated and the club remained non-functional.