Neradi barrage row: Mahamancha seeks protection of Odisha’s water and land rights
Paralakhemundi: Controversy over Andhra Pradesh’s proposed Neradi barrage on the Vamsadhara river has escalated beyond Gunupur. Members of Dandakaranya Vikas Mahamancha and local groups recently staged a peaceful protest outside the Gajapati Collectorate in Paralakhemundi. The demonstrators demanded the protection of Odisha’s land and water rights, urging officials to safeguard the interests of communities living along the river basin.
Protesters in Paralakhemundi demanded an immediate halt to verifying and transferring 106 acres of Odisha government land for the Vamsadhara barrage project until all legal and technical issues are resolved. They argued the project’s impact extends beyond an inter-state dispute, threatening agriculture, river ecology, groundwater, and local livelihoods.
The Mahamancha demanded that the Neradi project’s complete design and technical details be made public for independent assessment. They sought a scientific review of potential flooding and backflow risks in Gajapati and Rayagada, alongside a written assurance protecting Odisha farmers’ water rights. Despite the Vamsadhara Water Disputes Tribunal’s final award legally frameworking water sharing between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, local groups argue that infrastructure construction must consider specific ecological and social impacts. Protesters argued against transferring land for the Neradi project while legal proceedings are pending. They urged the State government to firmly contest the matter in court and administrative forums.
The protesters also urged the Odisha government to operationalise the proposed Panidangara Mega Water Project. They argued that strengthening local irrigation would protect agricultural interests and improve the State’s capacity to utilise its share of Vamsadhara river waters. A diverse group, including MLA Satyajit Gomango, legal experts, academics, farmers, and citizens, joined the campaign to voice concerns over the Neradi project’s potential consequences during the Satyagraha in Gunupur.
Dandakaranya Vikas Mahamancha president Gaurachandra Tripathy stated the group will pursue its demands through democratic and legal means, warning that agitation could intensify if the government fails to respond. Protesters argued that the Vamsadhara river dispute should not be reduced to an Odisha-versus-Andhra Pradesh conflict. Instead, they demanded that any infrastructure project on a shared river prioritise scientific transparency, inter-state consultation, and safeguards for downstream communities.
With the Neradi project renewing tensions in southern Odisha, the State government must now balance its tribunal-mandated legal obligations with local concerns over land, water security, and ecological resilience. Local farmers and civil-society groups at Paralakhemundi have rallied under the slogan “Save Vamsadhara, Save Odisha.” They are demanding a transparent technical assessment, strict legal scrutiny, and concrete safeguards before any land transfer to Andhra Pradesh is permitted.