Gobari river, which has now been reduced to a stormwater drain, and (below) the foundation stone laid by the chief minister for its revival project. Telegraph pictures

Kendrapara, Feb. 17: The state government has sought technical assistance of the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, to revive a ‘dying’ river here and bring out a permanent remedy to waterlogging problems of the district.

Gobari rivulet, which traverses through Derabish, Kendrapara, Pattamundai and Mahakalpada blocks of this district, is in urgent need of renovation. Siltation has taken a heavy toll on it. As a result, the rivulet, a tributary of Brahmani river, has been reduced to a mere drainage network of stormwater.

The important waterbody, which caters to both the needs of irrigation and stormwater release, is now a poor shadow of its former self. Silt and mud deposits have driven it to steady waning.

“The government is intent on renovating the rivulet as it will bring about a permanent solution to waterlogging problems in different parts of the district, including that in the Pattmundai Township,” said Nitin Swain, executive engineer, drainage-cut division.

The state water resources department had held consultation with IIT, Chennai, for the revival of Gobari river. A technical team of experts from the premier institute has already made a preliminary survey in this regard. The IIT, Chennai, would shortly conduct a comprehensive survey and submit a plan for the river’s renovation. On the basis of experts’ findings, the water resources department would go ahead with the renovation project of the river, executive engineer Swain added.

Earlier, the plan to revive the dying Gobari rivulet, which was sort of lifeline to Pattmundai Notified Area Council Township, had run into rough weather following massive silt deposits.

Reviving the river was a project in which chief minister Naveen Patnaik evinced special interest. He had laid the foundation stone of the Rs 3-crore revival project of the 15-km long waterbody last year.

For expeditious revival of the dying rivulet, the chief minister’s office has directed the water resources department personnel to conduct technical inspection of the waterbody, said officials.