Bhubaneswar: Following criticisms from various quarters on its poor show in irrigation sector, the state government has woken up and directed the district collectors and SPs concerned to resolve the problems related to irrigation projects.
Reviewing the progress of various irrigation projects here Wednesday, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi directed the collectors and SPs to personally monitor the projects and ensure timely completion of the same.
He also instructed the Water Resources secretary PK Jena to review the irrigation projects every Monday.
According to official sources, the state government has approved 198 irrigation projects in Angul, Jajpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Ganjam, Sundargarh, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and Koraput districts, at an estimated cost of `6,524 crore.
Following completion of these projects, irrigation potential will be created for 2.6 lakh hectares of land.
Out of the 198 projects, 170 are being expedited, while tenders for remaining 28 are to be awarded within a month, source said.
PNN
