Badasahi: Like other parts of the state, agriculture in the mainstay of people in Badasahi region of Mayurbhanj district, but this sector has been given short shrift, as some irrigation projects proposed by the government have been stuck in red tape.
According to sources in the agriculture department, about 23,000 hectare of land was meant for farming in the area this kharif season. Paddy was cultivated in 18,000 hectare while non-paddy cultivation was done in 5,000 hectare.
But farmers lamented that lack of irrigation facilities was a major hurdle for growth of agriculture.
Reports said the government has approved three major lift irrigation points in 2014, but their work has not yet been started.
Farmers expressed their displeasure over non-execution of these projects.
In the wake of cyclonic storm Phailin, a high-level team of officials had visited Badasahi area which is crisscrossed by rivers like Budhabalang, Gangahar, Son and a creek Nalhua.
There are two dams at Badajoda and Junapada. Despite huge water resources, farmers have been unable to utilize them for agricultural activities and thousands of acres are deprived of irrigation.
After receiving a report from the high-level team, NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) and the lift irrigation department conducted another survey and proposed three major irrigation points — one at Kuliana in Kendudiha panchayat, one at Unchabali in Madhapur panchayat and one at Kudimunda in Mangobindapur panchayat.
The district administration had approved the proposals in 2014 after taking stock of their locations and feasibility. Three years have passed, but there has been no step to initiate the groundwork for the projects.
The three major projects would have been able to irrigate about 1,200 hectare of land. Prior to 2013, there was provision of irrigation for 2,500 hectare of farmland through 137 small and minor irrigation projects.
By March 2016, about 1,500 shallow bore-wells have been set up in farmlands, said assistant agriculture officer Nilamadhab Das.
He admitted that agricultural growth has not been achieved for various factors.
“With execution of mega irrigation projects, over 1,400 hectare of farmland can be irrigated,” said a junior engineer of the irrigation department.
As for the projects, Badashi MLA Ganeswar Patra said though the projects have been approved at government-level, he would draw the attention of the agriculture minister in this regard.
If these projects are executed, more farmlands will be irrigated, said Bhabani Das of Kuliana pani panchayat.
NABARD GM Prakash Chandra Das said three project proposals have been sent to Mumbai office of the bank, but no details of the project locations are available with them. PNN
