Kaptipada: A check dam built on the foothills of Similipal in JS Jamudiha panchayat of Mayurbhanj district at a cost of Rs40 lakh to irrigate acres has been lying useless due to a faulty site selection.
Hundreds of acres belonging to tribals at the foothills of Similipal had been devoid of irrigation. The tribal farmers had proposed to the administration to utilise rainwater that drains out from the hilly terrains. They had taken up the issue with the authorities several times in the past.
Finally, the minor irrigation department took note of the demand of farmers. In 2015-16, the department built a check dam across river Thakathaki which emerges from Similipal near Kantiali village.
At that time, the local people had made some suggestions on the issue of site selection for the project. However, the locals allege the authorities had not paid heed to the suggestions. Besides, the construction of the dam was faulty, the locals claimed.
“As a result, the project has virtually become useless for farmers as it is unable to deliver water to large tracts of farmland,” said Krushna Chandra Biswal, Abhiram Palababu and Pitambar Nayak.
They also alleged the dam was built at a site which was suitable for the contractor. Locals lamented that despite repeated reminders to the authorities of the department, the contractor went ahead with the project ignoring their concerns.
Lakhs of rupees spent on the project have gone down the drain as large tracts of farmland in the upper reaches are deprived of irrigation, they added.
Other farmers like Prafulla Senapati, Ranjan Khandei and Ganeswar Senapati pointed out that there is no information plaque on the project details. Besides, cracks have developed on a wall of the dam while construction of some canals was not completed yet.
Though the villagers had apprised the collector of the issue, no action was taken in this regard, farmers said, expressing their displeasure.
A former assistant engineer said the project site was properly selected and it was not possible to build the dam at a higher place. The engineer denied any problem being faced by farmers. PNN