Balangir: Senior Lawmaker, Shri Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo has written to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha, who also holds the Water Resources portfolio, seeking an urgent independent technical enquiry into the serious damage suffered by the newly constructed Chattamakhana Dam during the recent rains. The reported damage includes the washing away of the cut-off wall and failure of the downstream embankments, raising concerns regarding the safety and structural adequacy of the project.
In his representation, Shri Singh Deo has pointed out that while the project was executed on an EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) basis, the sanctioned design underwent significant changes from the original tender design. According to the representation, the overall waterway was reduced from 256 metres to 206 metres, the number of gates from 18 to 14, and the impervious floor length from 80 metres to 50 metres, while the design discharge of 2,760 cumec remained unchanged. He has requested that an independent enquiry examine whether the revised design complied with applicable engineering standards and whether it was capable of safely handling the prescribed flood discharge.
The MLA has also sought an examination of whether the design flood adequately considered the impact of the upstream Lower Suktel Dam and requested that the enquiry fix responsibility wherever deficiencies are found. He has urged the Government to involve the State Dam Safety Organisation and independent experts, take immediate safety measures to safeguard villages and people living downstream against any risk arising from a structural failure, and place the enquiry report in the public domain. He has further demanded that if the enquiry establishes deficiencies in design, construction or workmanship, the entire rectification and repair of the dam should be carried out immediately at the cost of the contractor in accordance with the terms of the EPC contract.
Shri Singh Deo said, “This is a matter of public safety and accountability. If a newly constructed dam has suffered such serious damage, there is an urgent need to ascertain whether the structure poses any risk to the villages downstream. A transparent, independent and time-bound technical enquiry must be conducted, and if any deficiencies are found, the structure must be repaired immediately at the contractor’s cost while ensuring the safety of the public.”