Anandapur: The Anandapur barrage project in Keonjhar district will become operational by June. This was stated here by Chief Secretary (CS) Suresh Chandra Mahapatra during his visit for reviewing the barrage project work here, Saturday. He also reviewed the work on other projects in Keonjhar district and held discussions with officials of various departments. After his arrival, the chief secretary visited the under-construction bridge on Kusei river at Belbahali connecting National Highway-20. Then, he visited the barrage site and announced that it will become operational by the month of June after reviewing the right and left dykes of the canal. Mahapatra also announced the construction of a lift irrigation project here at a cost of Rs 600 crore. He said that the project when constructed, will help in providing irrigation to 50,000 hectares of farmland in Anandapur area.
Over 6,000 hectares of farmland will get irrigation water from the month of July after the completion of the canal works. The Anandapur barrage project when completed will help in providing irrigation facilities to 80,000-90,000 hectares of farmland. Later, the chief secretary left for Mayurbhanj district to review the Deo irrigation project.
Notably, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone for the Anandapur barrage project at a plan outlay of Rs 475 crore, January 9, 2009. The project was unveiled January 31, 2020, but is yet to become operational