A pond encircled with weeds and bushes in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, Sept. 2: The district administration will renovate and revive six water bodies in the city.

The minor irrigation department, which will execute the work, has prepared the detailed project report for the renovation drive. The cost of the project has been estimated at Rs 3.66 crore.

The water bodies, which will be renovated, are tanks located at Betrapara, Balibandha, Ramsagar, Manikmunda, Danipali and Jagannath colony.

Assistant executive engineer of the department Kishore Kumar Panda said: “The minor irrigation department will de-water the ponds, de-silt the water bodies, clear the weeds, level the adjoining area and build bathing ghats in the six water bodies.”

“The water of the ponds will be made fit for human use,” said Panda. He also said the department was preparing detailed project report for the renovation of four more water bodies in the city.

According to the official report, there are 94 tanks spread over 930.235 acres in the Sambalpur Municipality area.

However, most of them are lying in a shambles and have been encroached besides filled with filth, weeds and silt. Water in the majority of the tanks has become unfit for human use now.

“There was a time when the tanks used to supply drinking water of residents of the city. However, because of lack of proper attention, the water has become unfit for human use. Moreover, because of the negligence, several tanks of the city are on the verge of extinction,” said local resident Divya Ranjan Parida.