Chhendipada: Residents of Karnapal village under this block in Angul district have dug a 200-foot canal for irrigation.
Their effort has become an example for others to emulate, particularly at a time when crop losses and debt burden are dealing a heavy blow to farmers with many being forced to commit suicide. Moreover, the canal has given a new hope to the farmers in the village who were finding it difficult to cultivate their lands in the absence of irrigation facilities.
The villagers, without waiting for any help from the government, dug the canal at Basutaila in the village to provide water to their farmlands. They took upon themselves the task after repeated pleas had failed to stir the authorities.
Led by Sudarshan Pradhan, president, and Pratap Kumar Majhi, secretary, of the village committee, the residents dug the canal after collecting money from every household.
The collected money was kept with the village committee and implements necessary for the purpose were purchased with the funds. The villagers, after making all preparations, started the work Friday and dug over 200 feet of the canal by Saturday.
The villagers have also decided to construct an embankment and a sluice gate with 100-foot-long Hume pipes from their own funds. The canal, when completed, will help irrigate over 200 acres of farmland in the lower reaches of the water body.
The villagers have alleged the government has not made enough provision for irrigation in the area despite the fact that a majority of residents in Chhendipada block depend on agriculture for their livelihood.
They further alleged that the Irrigation Department had prepared plans for various projects under this block but they were yet to become a reality. They claimed that the project when completed will help in the growth of agriculture and uplift farmers in the area.
Pradhan demanded the government declare it as an irrigation project.
According to reports, the block administration had earlier spent Rs 2 lakh for a canal in 2008 but since then has not sanctioned a pie for its development.
Majhi said that the villagers collected Rs 500 from each family and even worked to dig up the canal.
PNN
