“Gangadhar
Meher Lift Canal system” – Still Nightmare
for people of Baragarh
Dear friends
On
the eve of Bijepur
Assembly Bye-Election-2017, on 23.10.17., the State Cabinet approved an
ambitious mega project named “Gangadhar
Meher Lift Irrigation Project” for providing irrigation facilities to
rainfed and drought prone araes
of Bijepur, Sohela and Barapalli block of Baragarh district. It was
highlighted by paid media in front paper , as if
this project will
bring a big change in the life and livelihood of the
people of 3 blocks of Baragarh
district. Now two years have been
completed since declaration
of this project by Chief Minister.
To
understand the implementation of declaration of the Chief
Minister about the project, RTI Application was filed to the
PIO, department of Water
Resources, Govt. of Odisha seeking information about details of implementation
of the project, budgetary provision
and progress of work etc. RTI Application was forwarded to PIO, office
of the Executive Engineer, Gangadhar Meher Lift canal Division No.1, Bijepur.
On 17.11.19., the PIO has supplied the following information.
1.
After declaration
of the Chief Minister about the project, the Water Resource Department framed this scheme named
as “ Gangadhar Meher Lift Canal System” ( Bijepur Lift Irrigation Project) on dated 2.11.17 to cater
to the irrigation needs of the
upland araes of Bijepur , sohela and
Barapali Block of Baragarh district. The
water will be drawn from Hirakud Dam through Baragarh Main Canal. The same will be tapped at RD 34.10
KM near Tengra village. The water lifted from Baragarh Main Canal
will be carried a distance of 17.64 kms
through pipeline upto barihapali Secondary Reservoir. From Barihapali
water will be delivered to the farmers in the designed ayacut area covering 74 no. of villages in Bijepur Block , 25 nos. of villages in sohela Block and 14 nos. of villages in Barapalli block through a mix of underground gravity
and pressure pipe
distributions network with outlets
at every four/one Ha. Chak.
2.
It is estimated
that an area of about 25,600 hect. Is to be irrigated
in the three Blocks.
3.
It was
planned to implement the
project over a period of five years from the date
of its commencement.
4.
It has
been planned to start
the project from
R.D. 34.1 KM of Main Canal ( Turunga village).
5.
The estimated cost of the
project is Rs.
1340.55 crores . The Govt. has earmarked
Rs. 200.00 crore
in 2018-19 and Rs. 100.00 in 2019-20.
6.
Though two years passed, not a single work has yet
started in Baragarh district.
This much media-hyped
project is full of
deception as nobody knows
when the project
will start . This is the
brightest example of Nabin Patnaik Govt. how the
people are deceived in broad-day light and swayed away
by false promises.
Pradip Pradhan
M-9937843482
Date- 25.11.19
