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* Multi-purpose Plan for Development of Orissa’s Rivers
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s Speech at Cuttack
“Orrisa wants to get rid of the evils of floods. Orissa wants to get rid of malaria and other—to use American phraseology—‘low-income’ diseases causing ill-health and corroding the stamina of her people. Orissa wants to raise the standard of living of her people and advance their prosperity by irrigation, by navigation and by producing cheap electrical power. All these purposes can fortunately be achieved by one single plan, namely to build reservoirs and store the water which is flowing in her rivers”
Thus observed the Hon’ble Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Labour Member to the Government of India, in his Presidential address at a conference held in Cuttack on November 8 between the representatives of the Central Government and the Governments of Orissa, the Central Provinces and the Eastern Slates, to discuss the possibilities of developing Orissa rivers.
Orissa’s Problems
Referring to the problems of Orissa, the Labour Member observed : “To say that the problem is one of floods is both an oversimplification and an understatement of the problem. I see the problem in somewhat different light. When I think of Orissa, the picture that comes to my mind is that of a people subject not to one affliction, but many.
“One such affliction, which is on the lips of everybody, is the constant exposure of her people to floods which cause damage to life and property and, in a general sense, insecurity. This affliction is due, not merely to floods, but also to droughts and famines. Damage by
***** Indian Information, December 15, 1945, pp. 692-95.