Khajuripada: The state government has laid a lot of stress on agriculture and irrigation. Crores of rupees are being spent on these heads. But it is alleged that the irrigation development has been confined to pen and paper only in Khajuripada area of Kandhamal district.
According to reports, agriculture is the mainstay of Khajuripada’s economy. In a bid to boost agriculture, the government has set up Pilasalinki minor irrigation project.
Locals said that lakhs of rupees are being spent for its restoration and repair, but it failed to deliver the goods. Farmers alleged that in Kharif season, dam water is not coming through canals. The district has only 27 per cent of irrigation coverage while the irrigation coverage during rabi season comes down to 10 to 12 per cent, the report said.
It is claimed that 2033 hectares of farmlands are provided irrigation through Pilasalunki minor irrigation project; 10314 hectares though small irrigation projects; 9128 hectares through lift irrigation projects and 3701 hectares in water harvesting projects.
In reality, the claim on irrigation coverage is quite different. In total, there are 1, 27, 790 hectares of farmlands in Kandhamal district while 96, 298 hectares are in upland areas.
Farming in most areas of the district is solely dependent of rainfall. Farmer leaders alleged that there is a need for more irrigation projects to expand the irrigation coverage in remote unirrigated areas.
Farmers in remote areas are keen to take up farming as their main livelihood, but lack of irrigation facilities have become a problem.
Social activists Bidyanath Behera, Mohammed Ziauddin and farmer leader Chankya Kahanr said that the state government should come forward to take up some minor irrigation projects to boost farming in a backward district like Kandhamal.
PNN
