Jalaput
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Jalaput Dam is built on Machkund River which rises in the Mudugal hills of Visakhapatnam District and nearby Ondra Gadda it becomes the boundary between Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. For over 48 km the river runs nearly north along a meandering course through the Padwa Valley. About 48 km south of Jeypore, it winds westward along the edge of the Plateau and then suddenly tums at a short angle to the south-west down a steep descent popularly known as "Duduma Falls".
Jalaput Dam (and Reservoir) impounds 34.273 TMC of water under the Machkund Hydro-Electric Scheme (MHES), down stream, in operation since 1955.
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[edit] Origin
'Jalaput'[1] derives its name from its local tribal dilect 'Jala' or 'Jal' means water. (In sanskrit too 'Jal' means 'Water')and 'Put' means a residing place or a store house or large place. Jalaput water reservior was the only water source for many of the local tribe in more than 100 tribal village in and around Jalaput in the koraput district. Before the present dam camp up before 55 years, it was a dense forest and a river surrounded by many tribal villages.
[Jalaput][2] is a border village between Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. One bridge distinguishes between the two states. Both side of bridge are known as LF (Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam district) and RF (Orissa, Koraput district). Earlier to formation of the jalaput dam it was known as Tentaput. The village is surrounded by many tribal villages still.
Jalaput[3], Machkund, and Onukadelli form the triangular shape of this hydro electricity generation project. The electricity generated here is supplied to many nearby towns including Visakhapatnam, Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh Koraput, Jeypore in orissa.
[edit] Communication
Jalaput is connected by road with all important towns in Orissa and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the most sought after visit places during winter. Araku Valley is 60 km from here. Visakhapatnam is the largest nearby city of this village.
[edit] Occupation
Agriculture is main occupation in nearby villages. The jalaputias (The residents of jalaput) are mainly Government employees. The retail business here is dominated by telugu speaking people and few pominent oriya businessmen. Wood cutting has become a prominent business here for a decade. That rise to many gang fights in last few years. District administration is worried about the rising fights amongh different groups for last five years. Apart from rice, jawa and many medicinal plants also form a significant part of agrarian business here. Presently many have entered into contractual farming for medicinal plants, jatropha plantation, and tissue culture.
The village has 5 decade old temples, mosques, and churchs within a distance of 30 meters. Residents celebrate all festivals without any religious overtones. The village is right combination of telugu and oriya language people. People here understand and communicate in both the languages with mixed accent.
Many aboriginal tribes inhabit nearby small villages. Most of the region was densely covered by forest. But recently due to massive deforestation in last one and half decade, much of the land has become barren.
The main village area resident are mostly Government Employess and few businessman
[edit] Missionary Controversy:
Lamtaput is 27 Kms from here where Christian Missionaries have set up a hospital named 'Asha Kiran'. But they are allegedly involved converting and baptising the local tribal population of all the nearby villages to christianity. Many churches are being set up overnight at many places creating suspicion and restlessness among the local people.
The hospital has allegedly been involved in unethical medical practices. http://www.ijme.in/054mi128.html
