CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Monday allowed construction of Indian Oil Corporation Limited’s (IOCL) water intake well on the Mahanadi river bed here with the condition of dredging the reservoir zone of the Jobra Barrage and its regular maintenance. A division bench of Justice BP Das and Justice MM Das, while allowing the construction, has stipulated that there would be no supply of water from Mahanadi river to the Oil refinery project at Paradip during the lean period of three months during summer. The IOCL will have to construct its own reservoir to meet its requirement during the period. It will be allowed to draw water from the river only after completion of its own reservoir. The bench directed the company to strictly adhere to the recommendations of the Technical Experts Committee headed by retired Chief Engineer S M Patnaik. A hydrographic survey should be conducted through IIT, Chennai to study the depth of the reservoir and gauge the necessity of dredging. The study should be conducted under the State Government with costs borne by the IOCL. The remnants of the old anicut would also be removed under the technical supervision of the Water Resources department by the IOCL. The excavated sediments and parts of the anicut would be utilised in strengthening the embankments along low-lying areas or sites as identified by the Water Resources department, the bench ruled. The court also directed the oil major to establish a water treatment plant in consultation with PHD for supply of drinking water to the city from the river. It also directed the company to contribute ` 10 crore for the Sishu Bhawan and `3 crore to Commissionerate Police for upgrading traffic signaling systems in the city along with providing five Hi-tech ambulances. A committee headed by Water Resources secretary Suresh Mohapatra, with Chief engineer and basin manager of Mahanadi Lower Basin B Panda, president of Jalasurakhya Mancha A Das, RDC Central and Collector Cuttack as members would oversee the execution and ensure compliance within four months. The court had on July last year stayed the construction of the intake well on the basis of a PIL filed by Nationalist Lawyers Forum alleging that it would threaten drinking water supply and irrigation. The court had constituted the Technical experts committee, which in its report had ruled out any danger to the embankments or impact on drinking water supply or irrigation due to the drawal of water from the reservoir.
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