Bhubaneswar: Time over runs, cost over runs and broken promises… That seems to be the fate of many irrigation projects across the state are yet to see the light of the day. The State government, that had made tall promises to the farming community in 2014 that an additional 10 lakh hectares would be brought under the purview of irrigation, has failed to achieve even 50 per cent of the target.
This has been inconveniencing tillers of land in a state where agriculture is a predominant livelihood.
Questions are being raised as to why such a target of 10 lakh hectares was set by the state government in 2014 when previous indicators show that in 17 years – from 2000 to 2017 – the administration could bring only 13 lakh-odd (13.29 lakh) hectares under the ambit of irrigation facilities.
This translates into a mere 76,000-odd hectares coming under irrigation facilities per year between 2000 and 2017, far removed from the ambitious 2014 target of 2 lakh hectares annually till 2019.
The irrigation potential created from April 2014 to January 2017 explains how the water resources department faltered and moved at a snail’s pace to provide irrigation facilities that is basic to the flourish of agriculture and the sustenance of the farmers’
Ahead of the 2009 poll, the government had promised to irrigate at least 35 per cent of agricultural land in each block. As per latest government data, only 108 blocks of the 314 blocks across the state have achieved 35 per cent irrigation facility.
Asish Kanungo, state president of All India Kishan Sabha, alleged that the state’s irrigation potential has gone down during recent years.
“When the BJD government came to power, irrigation potential was around 27 per cent of farmland. Due to lack of efforts and supervision of the water resources department, the figure has fallen to 20 per cent,” Kanungo said.
Akshaya Kumar, convenor of Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan, echoed Kanungo. “The state government has failed to keep its own promise due to lack of concern for poor farmers. Funds which are being provided are either not being properly utilized or are not reaching most of the intended beneficiaries. This will affect the state’s economy.
Status of some irrigation projects approved more than a decade ago but yet to be completed, leading to time delays and cost escalation, are given below:
Manjore Medium Irrigation Project: The project was undertaken in Athamalik sub-division of Angul district but is far from complete. It was approved in March 1993 at an estimated cost of Rs 37.70 crore. Time delays have raised the current cost to Rs 226.77 crore in 2009 and further to Rs 417.56 crore in 2015. This project is meant to create irrigation potential for 5713.50 hectares of land. The water resources department has now set March 2019 as the target.
Chheligada Dam Project: The project is being under taken across the river Badjhore, a tributary of river Vansadhara in Udayagiri block of Gajapati district. This is also hanging fire due to the apathy of the water resources department. The project was approved in 2000-01 with an estimated cost of Rs 78.73 crore. Due to the delay, the cost escalated to Rs 207.01crore in 2008. The project will provide annual irrigation to new Ayacut of 3800 hectares. It also envisages mini hydel schemes at three locations taking advantage of the natural drops in the river bed of Ghodahada to generate 35 MW of electricity. This project is expected to be completed by March 2020.
Mahanadi-Chitrotpala Island Irrigation Project: This major irrigation project was approved during May 1989 by the Planning Commission for Rs 39.94 crore for providing irrigation to 19542 hectares of Cultivable Command Area (CCA) in the island bound by the Mahanadi-Chitrotpala and Mahanadi-Paika rivers. Work started in 1988-89. Owing to time overruns, the project cost was first revised to Rs 93.07 crore, then to Rs124.72 crore and now Rs 395.46 crore. The government’s target year now is March 2019.
Lower Indra Irrigation Project: In order to improve the socio-economic condition of the inhabitants of KBK districts and to eradicate frequent drought situations, the government had proposed to construct Lower Indra Irrigation Project under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit programme (AIBP) in the year 1998-99 with an investment of Rs 211.70 crore. The project cost was first revised to Rs 521.13 crore and then to Rs1182.23 crore. Now, this project’s targeted deadline is June 2018.
When contacted in person, water resources secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena nor the engineer in-chief Gyana Ranjan Mohanty refused comment on the delays in the execution of the projects and the cost raise.
Biswa Bhushan Mahapatra, OP
