Dhenkanal: Already under severe mental distress due to the ongoing pandemic situation and monsoon playing truant, farmers of Beltikiri area of Sadar block in Dhenkanal district are currently at their wits end. Owing to frequent power cuts, the irrigation project they have has been lying unused for the last three months, resulting in their lands going parched.
“The irrigation project is of no use without electricity. We are lagging far behind in agricultural activities despite the project being close to our farmlands,” the beneficiaries, including Jitendra Sahu, Bikram sahu, Sudhanshu Nayak, Siba Prasad Behera, Madhumita Dehury, Prashant Gadnayak and Rabi Narayan Sandha, alleged.
Informing about the problem, the villagers said they have a deep tube well in their village. It was sunk by the Lift Irrigation department under Biju Krushak Vikas Yojana at a cost of Rs26,80,000. A 63 KVA transformer has also been installed to ensure that there is no problem in supplying water to farmlands.
But water supply to these farmlands has been severely affected for last three months because of power cuts. “In the absence of water, agricultural activities in 40 acres have suffered,” they alleged.
“We have transplanted paddy and vegetables like tomato, brinjal, long yard beans etc. Initially, we were worried about irregular rains. However, we decided to go on with the agricultural activities, pinning our hope on the irrigation project. But, frequent power cuts have left us nowhere. As of now, many farmlands are lying fallow,” they alleged.
The farmers added that they have taken the issue up with the Electricity department, Lift Irrigation department and district administration but are yet to receive any response from them. “The engineer of the Electricity department is only doing what he is best at – giving assurances. If no step is taken in this regard soon, we will be forced to resort to agitation,” they warned.
PNN
