Monday, November 25, 2019

Gangadhar Meher Lift Irrigation system- Still Nightmare for people

“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 

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