Odisha and Jharkhand are set to hold joint discussions with the Central Water Commission to address recurring Subarnarekha River floods affecting Balasore
OdishaPlus Bureau
Odisha and Jharkhand will address the flood control issues concerning the Subarnarekha River, which remains a significant concern for both states, through further discussions involving the Central Water Commission (CWC).
This matter was discussed during the standing committee meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council (EZC) that took place at the Lok Seva Bhawan on Tuesday. The Subarnarekha River is prone to flash floods due to the sudden release of water from dams in Jharkhand, which predominantly impacts the Balasore district.
Hemant Sharma, the additional chief secretary of the Information and Public Relations department, informed TNIE that the Subarnarekha multipurpose project and the ongoing flood challenges affecting both Odisha and Jharkhand were thoroughly examined. Sharma mentioned that the secretaries of the Water Resources departments from both states were instructed to engage in joint discussions with their respective teams to devise a solution prior to the next council meeting.
Discussions between the two states will take place with the assistance of the CWC to address the matter. Sharma indicated that no conclusive decision has been reached regarding the issue. It will be deliberated at the upcoming EZC meeting, which will be attended by the chief ministers of both states. He mentioned that the dates for the EZC meeting have yet to be determined.
Sharma also noted that other topics discussed included the auction of significant mineral blocks in the eastern zonal states, the PMGSY road connectivity and its achievements, the implementation status of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, the establishment of special courts for the expedited handling of rape and POCSO Act cases, the updating of urban master plans, the approval and progress under PMAY 2.0, strategies to decrease school dropout rates, and initiatives in the cooperative sector under ‘Sahakar Se Samriddhi’.
The meeting was chaired by Odisha’s chief secretary, Anu Garg, as the host state. Representatives from Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal participated in the meeting. Attendees included Ashish Srivastava, secretary of the Inter-State Council Secretariat, Ministry of Home Affairs, Pratyaya Amrit, chief secretary of Bihar, Ajay Kumar Singh, development commissioner of Jharkhand, and Binod Kumar, additional chief secretary of West Bengal.