Champua: The government spends lakhs of rupees to boost agriculture through lift irrigation (LI) points, but farmers in Champua block of Keonjhar district alleged that the construction of most of these LI points was botched up by the contractors due to negligence of the department.
Farmers pointed out that due to the substandard construction of LI points they fail to get irrigation facilities along river Aradei. Upset over this, many farmers have drawn the attention of Champua agriculture officer Gajendranth Gochhayat.
According to reports, the irrigation department had set up several LI points along Aradei in Rajia panchayat in 2016-17 with an expenditure of Rs 16.24 lakh. The LI points were supposed to give irrigation coverage to 40 acres of land.
“We had hoped to raise pulses and oil seeds, apart from rabi and kharif crops, but we are unable to get irrigation facilities as most of the LIP points are lying paralysed due to use of substandard materials in their construction,” some farmers said, adding at many places, utility poles have precariously slanted while cracks have developed on delivery pipes.
Besides, the overarching transmission lines have posed danger to domestic animals as well as people. Three LI points at Tala Mouza have gone defunct as the contractors have compromised with their quality, the farmers claimed.
“Despite repeated reminders, the irrigation department is paying no heed to our problems,” they alleged.
The farmers had also raised the issue at a Krushak Sabha here May 2. “Though 23 days have passed, no step has been taken to repair the defunct LI points,” they said.
Agriculture officer Gochhayat said, “Repairing LI points is not the task of our department. All I can do is forward the complaint to the office of the sub-collector for immediate action.”