"Development of modern, centralised system of irrigation is the main reason. Everywhere in the command area of the Hirakud dam, these structures lie defunct today,' says R S Rao, reader, department of economics, University of Sambalpur. His views are echoed in the villages. "When we get water, though not so regularly, directly to our fields, why should we bother maintaining the katas which involves hard labour?' asks Prasanta Mahato of Bargarh.

"Other reasons are the disappearance of community ownership of water resources and the fall of the village headperson from his position of authority,' says Sakti Padhi of the Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies, Bhubaneswar. After independence, the state government took over the control of these water harvesting systems. Official intervention wrought havoc in no time. In Mahulpati village of Balangir district, after taking possession of the kata in 1955, the government replaced the mud-sluice with a concrete one. In 1982, the directorate of minor irrigation projects put up one more sluice and constructed three beneficiary tanks for pisciculture (artificial breeding of fish). Today, beset by government negligence, the kata is gradually filling up with mud, both from the catchment area and from the beneficiary tanks which are inside it; the system of equitable distribution of water has broken down.

Problem of heavy siltation is mainly the result of the loss of the forest cover in and around the catchment area. Besides, villagers are no longer interested in community action to improve the state of affairs. "The panchayat is supposed to carry the repairs and maintenance job; after all, it is our money that the government gives them. So if they cannot perform their duty, why should anybody else bother?' concurs Lakru Pradhan of Ganga Sagar.

Another problem is encroachment on the command and catchment areas. "Many officials, after the katas was taken over by the government, grabbed the fertile land around them,' alleges B B Singh of Jujumora village. A large part of the kata of Bijepur has been encroached upon. Also, katas have been promoted for pisciculture, leaving little water for irrigation.