Baleshwar: The long-pending Bankatira Barrage Project across the Budhabalanga River in Odisha’s Baleshwar district has moved closer to implementation, with compensation payment for 7.98 acres of private land entering the final stage of acquisition.
Possession of the land is targeted by November 15, while the required forest clearance has been secured.
Water Resources Department Principal Secretary Shubha Sarma reviewed the project’s progress Sunday and took stock of preparations for expediting construction.
Proposed in Remuna block, the barrage will provide Kharif irrigation to around 7,300 hectares across 120 villages in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts, benefiting 21,269 people. It will also supply 60 MLD of water to Balasore Municipality and 40 MLD to 34 gram panchayats in Baleshwar Sadar and Remuna blocks.
The project will further support irrigation to around 2,000 hectares through the existing Mega-Lift Irrigation Project in Badasahi block of Mayurbhanj district.