Bhubaneswar: In a significant development, water from the Mahanadi River has been released into the Sukapaika drainage channel through the newly constructed Ayatpur sluice on a trial basis.
The event was marked by the presence of senior officials from the Water Resources Department, including the Superintending Engineer of Mahanadi South Division, Cuttack, and the Executive Engineer of Drainage Division, Cuttack.
It is learnt that the revival of Sukapaika, a distributary of the Mahanadi River, has been a long-standing demand of the local people.
Notably, the channel, which was once a lifeline for over 400 villages, had become dead after its mouth was closed as a flood control measure. The revival of the channel is expected to benefit over 10 lakh people and change the topography of the area.
The Executive Engineer, Dr PC Rath, meanwhile, expressed his gratitude to the officials and staff of the Water Resources Department for their support in making this project a reality. He described the day as memorable and congratulated the team for their efforts.
