BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to create irrigation potential of 7.26 lakh hectares during the next two years, 2017-18 and 2018-2019, in a bid to achieve the target of 10 lakh hectares by 2019. Official sources maintained that additional irrigation potential of 4.63 lakh hectares has already been created by 2016-17. Creation of irrigation potential of additional 10 lakh hectares was promised by the BJD in its 2014 election manifesto. After returning to power, the State Government had decided in-principle to implement the poll promise.
But, the Government has come in for criticism from the opposition political parties for lack of satisfactory progress in implementation of the promise. Official sources, however, maintained that there has been no delay in implementation of different schemes to achieve the target. Officials of the water resources department maintained the achievement will cross the target fixed by the State Government.
The issue was discussed at the meeting of State Agriculture Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday. Progress in the implementation of irrigation projects was also discussed.
According to official sources, four irrigation projects, Lower Indra, Ret, Telengiri and Rukura, with a potential to irrigate 34,000 hectares will be completed in 2017-18. Eight other major and medium irrigation projects will be completed in 2018-19.
Similarly, 55 Minor Irrigation Projects (MIPs) out of the 213 work for which was started, have been completed and 158 more will be completed by 2018-19. Besides, 16 mega lift clusters and Upper Indravati Lift Projects under mega lift irrigation project are in various stages of implementation. The projects with a cost estimate of `7665.47 crore will provide irrigation to 2.41 lakh hectares.
Sources maintained that 1771 defunct lift irrigation points (LIPs) have also been revived by spending `221.97 crore. A target has been fixed to revive 799 defunct LIPs by 2017-18 and 803 by 2018-19. Besides, construction of 9558 check dams have been completed by 2016-17 at a cost of `1973.25 crore. A target has been fixed to complete 4000 check dams during 2017-18 and 2018-19.
Project deadlines
Lower Indra, Ret, Telengiri and Rukura irrigation projects, with a potential to irrigate 34,000 ha will be completed in 2017-18
Eight other major and medium irrigation projects to be finished in 2018-19
55 MIPs out of 213 have been completed
16 mega lift clusters and Upper Indravati Lift Projects in various stages of implementation