Farmers in coastal Orissa live in fear of tidal waves

Several villages along the coastline in Orissa are under a constant threat of tidal waves that cause erosion rendering large tracts of farmland saline.

Rajendra Nagar (Orissa), Aug 14 : Several villages along the coastline in Orissa are under a constant threat of tidal waves that cause erosion rendering large tracts of farmland saline.

Over 1,500 farmers residing in seven villages along the coast at Rajendra Nagar block in Orissa's Kendrapada District have fled their homes during the last few weeks.

The villagers say the embankments built to protect the villages were damaged in the 1999 super cyclone, which devastated villages, and claimed the lives of thousands, and the livelihood of millions in coastal Orissa.

The high tidal waves have been a regular feature during the last t eight years. These waves have destroyed the agriculture land permanently by inundating the field by saline water. At times the water damages their houses as well.

"The sea is playing games with us. The saline water enters the village during high tide and destroys our crops. Our land is useless now; we are suffering a lot because of it," said Sudhir Muduli, a villager.

The villagers complain of government's apathy towards their problems. They say they don't even have a shelter during cyclone or high tide.

"The embankment is very weak most of the time water enters the village. We are really helpless. There is no shelter where we can go during the high tide. Government is paying no attention to our appeals," said Rameswar Behara, another villager.

A top district official said he had given directions to strengthen the damaged embankments.

"The damaged embankments need to be repaired. I have directed the officials... to repair it urgently," said Kashinath Sahoo, District Collector of Kendrapada.

Villagers say, the sea has already devoured almost 2.5 square kilometers of land during the last 15 years and several hundred villagers in Rajendra Nagar, Satabhaya and Kanhupur are living under virtual threat from the sea.

The problem worsens during full and new moon period when the tides occur.

The youth in the region have migrated to nearby towns to earn a living; and those left behind are also thinking of following suite.

ANI