Nayagarh: Deep lift irrigation projects meant to provide irrigation facilities to farmlands are increasing every year in Nayagarh district. This has failed to bring cheers to the farming community as many of the projects have become defunct and are yet to become functional. As a result, they have been suffering like in the past in irrigating their farmlands.
A close scrutiny of government records shows that the administration has done so much in providing irrigation facilities to the farmlands. The government record says that 418 out of 1,228 lift irrigation projects have become defunct. However, a private estimate has fixed the number of defunct projects two times the government estimate.
Among them, 1203 electric powered projects were meant to irrigate 6015 hectare and 25 solar powered projects meant for irrigation of 125 hectare. The government record says 418 electric powered projects are lying defunct for which 2090 hectares are lying non-irrigated.
At present, 4050 hectares are being irrigated by 810 projects. Uddhab Pradhan, a farmer from Gania, said farmers have no knowledge on the number of projects lying defunct in the district. The project from which he used to draw water for irrigating his farmland is lying defunct now but is shown as working. All these are being shown in pen and papers without actually benefitting the farmers. He said farmers are spending from their own pocket in drawing water to irrigate their farmlands.
However, none in government and administration are trying to understand the pain a farmer undergoes to irrigate his farmland. Sources said the state government has directed establishment of 400 deep bore wells in Nayagarh district in 2021-22 financial year for which 395 farmers have been selected for installation of deep bore wells on their farmlands.
As per the order, 238 deep bore wells were dug up in the district out of which 15 are from Bhapur block, 3 from Gania block, 21 from Khandapara block, 81 from Nuagaon block, 11 from Nayagarh block, 59 from Odagaon block, 48 from Ranpur block.
However, 97 of the projects are yet to become operational out of which 11 in Bhapur block, 3 in Gania block, 21 in Khandapara block, 37 in Nuagaon block, 8 in Nayagarh block, 7 in Oadagaon block, 10 in Ranpur block. The rest of the 141 projects have become functional. However, how far these projects will be of any benefit to the farmers is still in doubt.
On the other hand, the applications of four farmers in Daspalla block have been accepted but the administration is yet to dig up bore wells on their farmlands.
Rama Chandra Dalabehera, a farmer of Nayagarh, said digging of deep bore wells on farmlands has met with very little success and is becoming defunct after running for one to one and half months. He alleged over 700 projects including electric and solar powered are lying defunct in the district.
The government provides financial assistance for renovation of these defunct projects but farmers are unaware about it. He alleged that has repeatedly drawn the attention of the authorities about his project lying defunct but his pleas are yet to be addressed.
When contacted, Niranjan Das, executive engineer, lift irrigation division, Nayagarh said his department is taking steps for the benefit of farmers. He said over 418 deep bore well projects are lying defunct in the district whose renovation is being done in phases.
PNN