Profiling important waterbodies of Odisha

Name: SAKHIPADA POND

 Type:Pond, Size: Approx QUATER Acre, Location: Sakhipada, Sambalpur

Brief History:  

The pond has a unique story of being created with the Sakhigopinath Temple. Initially there were 3 ponds that were created. Out of this 3, only 2 ponds at present have water. The other pond do not have water so at present it is being used as a playing field by the locals. Out of the two ponds one is being used for bathing and cleaning clothes by the local people. The other pond was used to dump religious waste like flowers after the pooja.

Socio-religious significance:

For most of the time the pond served as the only water body to bath and clean clothes. The locals at present gather around the temples of Lord Shiva, Maa Santoshi on the events like Santoshi Puja Every Friday,Shiva Puja on Shiv Ratri. The temples around the pond serves as an added advantage to the pond. The pond is also used to pray during Kartik Purnima, where local comes to waive the miniature boats.

Economic significance:  

There are temples and pooja shops around the temple. This shops helps the locals earn the livelihood from the temples near pond. The area has many grocery store nearby    . The pond directly do not support any form of economic benefit.

What is the current condition? Any efforts to clean up or rejuvenate the waterbody?

At present the one operational pond is filled with plastic and other waste. Local urinate nearby the pond. The second pond is completely filled with aquatic plants and has turned to a swamp. There was a small try in last few years to create beautification around the pond, but ponds have not been cleaned since a long decade.

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