ROURKELA: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is likely to inaugurate the much-awaited Rukura Medium Irrigation Dam project in Bonai sub-division of Sundargarh district on July 25.After considerable delay, the trial run of the dam has started after completion of a major portion of work. Newly-appointed Rukura Medium Irrigation Dam project executive engineer Biswajit Panigrahi said the project is complete while minor works are underway in the canal system. Stating that the remaining works will be completed soon, he put the revised final cost of the project at `296.92 crore.
Sources said the project, with its earthen dam located at Musaposh village of Gurundia block of Bonai sub-division through its 10.87 km main canal system and 110 km sub-canal system, covers 74 villages. The project with concrete spillway, head regulator and four radial gates is designed to irrigate 5,463 hectares in kharif crop season and 2,185 hectares in rabi crop season.Sources said the key irrigation project was first officially acknowledged with pre-feasibility survey done way back in 1982. Amid wait for administrative approval, the project proposal had remained in back-burner for 18 years till it was reactivated in 2000.
The initial project cost was estimated at around `56 crore. The final administrative nod was given in 2016 with a budgetary provision of `154 crore. It got stuck again due to protests by land oustees and the spadework finally started in December 2010.From then on, till 2015, it has been a bumpy ride for the project which faced several protests by the land oustees. During the period, the cost of the project was revised several times.
Meanwhile, the district administration has begun preparations for the Chief Minister’s visit on July 25.
State BJD secretary AC Mohanty said during his visit, the Chief Minister is likely to inaugurate the Rukura dam project and lay foundations for a host of other projects in Bonai sub-division and also address a public meeting at RDD ground in Bonai block.