Archive · 5 Dec 2025
Villagers Protest Plans to Bury Historic Matha Well
In a village called Sorala, people are very upset because someone wants to bury an old, important well called the Matha Well.
This well was built a long time ago in 1949 by a man named Ekadasi Baba to help the village during a water shortage.
For many years, the whole village used this well for their water.
But now, the well is not being taken care of, and the husband of the local village leader wants to bury it to make space for a transformer.
The villagers and some monks called Alekh Mahima Sadhus are very angry and want to protect the well.
They say the well still has good water and can help the village in the future.
They are asking the government to help save the well.
Villagers and Alekh Mahima Sadhus are protesting plans to bury the historic Matha Well in Sorala, Ganjam district.
The well was built in 1949 by Ekadasi Baba to address a water crisis and served as the primary water source for the panchayat until 2015.
The well has been neglected for the past six years, and the husband of the local Sarpanch is allegedly trying to bury it to install a transformer.
Villagers claim the well still yields abundant sweet water and preserving it could aid in groundwater recharge.
The community has appealed to the block, tehsil, and district administration for intervention to protect the well, which is on land belonging to Alekh Mahima Ashram.
- Who
- Villagers and Alekh Mahima Sadhus of Sorala
- What
- Protest against plans to bury the historic Matha Well
- When
- Ongoing, with recent escalation
- Where
- Sorala village, Ganjam district
- Why
- To preserve the cultural and spiritual heritage of the well and its potential for groundwater recharge
- Location
- Sorala, Ganjam district
- Year Built
- 1949
- Primary Use
- Water source for the entire panchayat
- Current Status
- Neglected for six years
- Proposed Action
- Burying the well to install a transformer
- Opposition
- Alekh Mahima Sadhus and villagers
- Land Ownership
- Alekh Mahima Ashram