Bolangir: Even as 18 years have passed since the Lower Sutkel mega irrigation project had received the administrative nod, the fate of the project is still passing through uncertainties with no signs of its works getting completed soon, a report said Saturday.
This has happened despite the presence of a stable government in the state for the last 18 years. The project which received the administrative clearance in 1999 had an initial plant outlay of Rs 217.13 crore.
The project had a revised plan outlay of Rs 1,041 crore in 2009 and has now increased to over Rs 2500 crore after the project went through a roller coaster ride between these years.
The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of the project at Bandhanghor about five km from the proposed site of Magurbeda due to local opposition in 2001.
The then Loisingha MLA, Narsingha Mishra, laid the foundation stone of the spillway in 2005. While the spillway work is on its last leg, the issues like clay embankment, rehabilitation and compensation are yet to be settled.
The Lower Suktel Budi Anchal Sangram Parishad, an outfit comprising villagers of submerged areas, had vehemently opposed the project following which the police had to lathicharge protesters rendering several persons injured.
The plan outlay was revised to Rs 1041 crore in 2009. However, that failed to get the work going. Currently, the plan outlay has crossed over Rs 2500 crore.
Later, works started on the project between the agitation of dam supporters of the submerged areas and that by the action committee in 2013.
However, the project was further pushed into controversy after the 2013 land acquisition Act was implemented. Between all these 18 years, RPDAC meeting could only be held for three times. And the third meeting was held for the last time May 19, this year.
Among the 29 affected villages, land acquisition was completed in 15 villages only while notification 4 (1) is yet to be issued for rest 14 villages as the survey for the land acquisition is yet to be undertaken in these villages. This has pushed the project into further uncertainty.
The demand for compensation and rehabilitation under the new land acquisition Act became loud after the 2013 land acquisition Act was implemented.
Moreover, the government’s decision to providing ex-gratia to 15 villages and implementing the 2013 land acquisition Act in rest 14 villages has given rise to disputes.
The government approach has also saddened the dam supporters while the Lower Suktel Budi Aanchal Sangram Parishad is staunchly opposed to the project.
The later is demanding construction of small anicuts and barrages instead of a mega dam to irrigate the farmlands. They have alleged the project, when implemented, will submerge vegetable cultivation, fertile farmlands, kendu leaves and forests.
PNN
