Kendrapada: : The fate of farmers in several villages under Pattamundai block hangs in balance as dense weed growth in the Gobari river has choked water flow, crippling irrigation for summer paddy, vegetables and other crops.The nearly 10-km river stretch is heavily infested with fast-growing aquatic weeds such as water hyacinth, forming thick mats that block flow and deplete oxygen levels.Large portions of the river are clogged, while illegal encroachments along its banks have further narrowed the channel. Farmers say these factors have made it increasingly difficult to draw water for irrigation.Villagers from Alapua, Amrutamanohi, Andara, Aradapalli, Badamohanpur, Badapada, Baluria, Dihapada, Gangarampur and Oupada gram panchayats depend on the river for irrigation. However, with flow obstructed at multiple points due to weeds and encroachments, stretches of the river have become “biologically dead”, said Umesh Chandra Singh, president of the district unit of Krishak Sabha.“Removal of aquatic weeds requires intensive manual or mechanical effort. In the absence of weed clearance and dredging, the river will die. Despite repeated representations, no concrete steps have been taken,” Singh said.Encroachments and dumping of waste have further worsened the situation. “The river’s width has shrunk at many places due to illegal construction by influential people. Waste and weeds have nearly stopped water flow, but authorities are yet to act against encroachers,” said Jagannath Acharya of Nimapur village.Farmers say they are the worst affected, unable to sustain irrigation due to water scarcity. The river’s degradation has also hit local biodiversity, including fisheries, said Akshya Sahoo, a farmer from Gangarampur.Collector (Kendrapada) Raghuram R Iyer said restoration work has begun. “The water resources department is undertaking renovation of the Gobari river. We have directed officials to evict encroachers who have illegally occupied riverside land. The weeds will be cleared soon,” he said.
