Bolangir: The first rainwater in Suktel River entered the Lower Suktel dam’s reservoir for the first time, Tuesday as work on the irrigation project is on its last leg, a report said Wednesday. According to available information, the water level in the reservoir reached 184 RL by Wednesday night. After reports surfaced, people in nearby villages thronged the dam site to get a glimpse of the water-filled dam. This has also sent the chatters abuzz in the area. Reports said that the plan for the construction of an irrigation project called the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project was conceived two decades back. The project had to encounter many roadblocks and finally, after much uncertainty, construction of the project reached its last leg.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone for construction of the dam November, 24, 2001. The project work got stalled several times due to repeated agitations by the locals and project oustees. Later, work on the project picked up and now it is just short of completion. Observers and people are of the opinion that the dam after its completion will lead the district on the path of development.
However, what ails the district administration is that there are still many people to be relocated from many of the project-affected villages. People in these villages are apprehensive as they ponder what their situation will be as monsoon has set in the state. They are living in an atmosphere of fear and trepidation. Though none of the project-affected villages have submerged due to little rain, but what will happen when it will rain heavily, they alleged. They fear that the riparian villages will be completely submerged when it rains heavily.
Observers think that relocation of people from the affected villages is the most important work now. The district administration is leaving no stone unturned to expedite the relocation process but people want it to be done on war footing. When contacted, chief construction engineer Sunil Rout of Lower Suktel Irrigation project ruled out any possibility of submergence of affected villages. He said that rainwater has entered the dam after two days of rainfall in the area. The water level has been measured at 181 RL but if more water enters the dam then the under sluice gate will be opened to discharge the excess floodwater. The water level in the dam will be maintained at a safe level and as the construction of the dam is underway, the accumulated rainwater will also be discharged from the dam, he added.