Post News Network
Karanjia: When the construction of ambitious Deo minor irrigation project was undertaken in 1993, thousands of tribal farmers hoped it would boost agriculture in a big way in several backward areas of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar
districts.
But 22 years have passed and the project is yet incomplete even as its cost has escalated nine times of the original estimate.
The irrigation project being laid across a tributary of Brahmani river near Hatibari in Mayurbhanj was originally estimated to cost Rs 52.2 crore. But the cost has now spiralled to `500 crore, putting a strain on the state exchequer over the last 22 years.
Although a host of problems has been dragging the pace of the project, many blame administrative negligence as the major hurdle for the completion of the project.
Till date, a dyke of 1,280 metre has been laid across the tributary in Panchapidha subdivision. The project envisaged construction of two canals—one on the right and the other on the left side of the dyke — to irrigate 6,677 hectare in Karanjia panchayat and 3,223 hectare in Saharapada panchayat in Keonjhar district.
Then chief minister Biju Patnaik had laid the foundation stone of the project at Hatibari April 28, 1993 and it was aimed at irrigating 9,900 hectare of farmland. But it could not be completed by 1997 and got stuck for a brief period.
Nabard then funded project and it was progressing well till it came to a standstill in 2006 due to problems related to rehabilitation and resettlement of the people affected by the project. Locals also stopped their cooperation in this regard.
As many as 14 villages of the two districts have been affected by the project. While completely affected villages are Devigad, Badaramchandrapur, Kadalibadi and Badabarhakamuda, partially affected are Hatibari, Sanabarhakamuda, Purunapani, Thakurmapatana, Ranibhola and Shyamchandrapur.
The state government effected new rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) policy in 2006. The project affected families were paid compensation according to the provisions of the new policy.
After remaining stuck for several years, the construction work of the project was resumed in 2014. Orissa Construction Corporation has currently undertaken the main dam work and till now about 70 per cent of the right canal work has been completed.
However, a few days ago, many displaced persons obstructed the construction work, demanding more compensation for their land. Police arrested four of the displaced and produced them in a court.
Executive engineer of the main dam of the project, Basant Rout said that all the villagers of Hatibari received their compensation amount 20-22 years ago.
“However, they have not yet abandoned their houses and still continue their agriculture activities. They deliberately oppose the project,” he added.
Rout also said that some persons still claim that they have not received the compensation as yet while some have allegedly misappropriated the compensation amount of others. Steps will be taken soon in this regard, he
assured.
