Lakshmijore rivulet in Balangir. Telegraph picture

Balangir, Aug. 26: The Lakshmijore rivulet, which is the only source of flowing water in the town, has turned into a hub of illegal constructions.

The banks of the rivulet is now dotted with houses obstructing the course of the water. Moreover, both sides of the rivulet act as dumping yard of residents.

Originating from the Gandhrel hills on the outskirts of the town, the rivulet divides it into two parts. It drains into the nearby Suktel river, a few kilometres from Balangir.

Old timers say Lakshmijore was so named as it once brought prosperity to Balangir.

One Satya Mahaling, a town resident, said that earlier, the stream had ushered in prosperity and good health for the town residents. “That is the reason why the rivulet is called Lakshmijore. But now, the town residents have turned it into a dumping yard. Heaps of garbage are found on the rivulet’s banks that pollute the water,” Mahaling said.

He said the rivulet also acted as a drainage point and excess water from the town used to drain into the Lakshmijore. “But heavy encroachment has blocked the drainage system, and as a result, the town often witnesses flood-like situation in rains,” he said. Encroachments have come up on both banks of the rivulet in many places such as near the Women’s College Hostel, State Bank of India, Town police station and at Thikadarpada, Brahminpada, Ambapada, Gandhi Nagar and Satyanarayanpada.

Sanat Pradhan of Gandhi Nagar said the rivulet used to be the main source of water for the town.

“It is the only source of flowing water and people used to take bath and washed their clothes in it. But due to illegal constructions on its banks, the water flow has stopped and there is hardly any water in the rivulet except in rains. The municipal authority should do something to stop these illegal constructions or Lakshmijore would soon die,” Pradhan said. Executive officer of the Balangir Municipality Santosh Kumar Behera said the civic body had decided to send a proposal to the state urban development department to restore the stream’s free flow.

“Steps will be taken to make the rivulet free from encroachments. The Lakshmijore is the lifeline of the town and we all are aware about it. Also we will contact the tehsildar for demarcation of the encroached lands and efforts will be made for its restoration,” said Behera.