Mega irrigation project in Dhenkanal on cards

DHENKANAL: FOR farmers in Dhenkanal district, irrigation has always been a major problem. However, a mega lift irrigation project on Rengali right canal, proposed by the State Water Resources department, is set to put an end to it.

The department has initiated the process for starting the project along with Rengali authorities and the tender will be floated soon, informed J K Tripathy, chief construction engineer, Rengali Right canal. He said the State Government has already allocated `50 crore for the project, which would lift water from the canal and supply it to crop lands. Tripathy said the grievances of the farmers, who gave up their land for the Rengali project, were considered by the State Government.

Presently, the water level of Rengali Right canal is 150 feet which is not enough to irrigate crops in the highlands. This has been a major concern for the farmers who solely depend on rainfall to irrigate their land. According to the office of Rengali Right canal, work is going on in Sadar, Gondia and Parjang blocks spread over  Lambodharpur, Madhusudanpur, Sankarpur and leading to Cuttack district. The canal work spreads over 95 km across the district.

An amount of `1,962 crore was allocated initially for the canal but now the cost is likely to escalate to `3,200 crore, official sources said. The work on Rengali Right canal was started in 1998. However, in the absence of  adequate rainfall, it has not been beneficial for the farmers.