‘Irrigation projects delayed by 15 yrs’

BHUBANESWAR: Several irrigation projects launched by the State Government about 15 years back are yet to be completed and resulting in cost escalation. This came to the fore in a written reply given by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to a question from Naba Kishore Das (Cong) in the Assembly on Monday. He said survey for Angabaddha major irrigation project was started in December 1, 1982 and it was sanctioned in September 20, 2000 with a project estimate of `304.66 crore. The project cost has now been fixed at J1559.4 crore after escalation and it will submitted before the Central Water Commission (CWC) for clearance, he said and added that the project to be started in 2018-19, will be completed in 2024-25.

Stating that the survey work for the Kusumi medium irrigation project was started in May 28, 2009, the Chief Minister said the project report was finalised in August 16, 2013. J74.78 crore was sanctioned for the project in 2015, he said adding the project is targeted to be completed in 2020-21. Similarly, the Bankitara medium irrigation project, survey work for which was conducted in 2002 will be started in 2018-19, he said and added that a target has been fixed to completed it in 2020-21. The Ghatakeswar multi-purpose irrigation project which was started in 2008 will be completed in 2020, he said.