21
CONTROL AND UTILISE THE MAHANADI TO THE BEST ADVANTAGE
LETTER BY DR. AMBEDKAR, CABINET MEMBER, LABOUR REGARDING HIRAKUND DAM
Letter by Dr. Ambedkar,
Department of Labour
Dear Lord Wavell,
Would you refer to paragraph 2 of your letter of the
20th January ? I have had this matter examined by my Department in consultation with Finance Department. Khosla has reported that the Sambalpur Dam must definitely form part of the Mahanadi Scheme, that the geological report is satisfactory but that he is not yet able to estimate the cost or the revenue accruing from either the dam or the scheme as whole. He considers, however that it is so certain that the Sambalpur Dam will form part of the Mahanadi Scheme that it is quite legitimate to lay the foundation stone in March. The Finance Member is all in favour of schemes of this sort and does not consider that the laying of the foundation stone will involve any specific commitments though he considers— as I do—that if a decision to lay a foundation stone is taken we can authorise the Governor to state that the Government are determined to control and utilise the Mahanadi to the best advantage of the country and that in this matter the Provincial Government hopes to receive all reasonable support from, the Central Government provided that the project plans now under preliminary preparation show, as is expected that it is worth while to go on with the scheme,
In your letter you have said that we might perhaps aim at a decision early enough to enable Lewis to lay the foundation stone before he hands over charge. I think the only decision we can take is that we will assist Orissa in carrying forward the Mahanadi Scheme subject to the proviso indicated above. I think that this decision justifies us in going ahead with laying a foundation stone provided that with this assurance the Governor himself is prepared to do so from the Orissa angle.