BHUBANESWAR: As work at Lower Indra dam in Nuapada district is not making the desired progress after the March 15 Maoist attack at the construction site, the Water Resources department has sought adequate security for protection of men and machineries.
Though work has been resumed at the irrigation project site, workers and officials do not feel safe to stay there after sunset. Since they are working under constant fear, the project is not making the desired progress.
Water Resources Secretary P K Jena has requested Director-General of Police (DGP) Sanjeev Marik to issue instructions to the Nuapada SP for deployment of police force at the construction site for protection of men and machineries.
Maoists set ablaze the construction machineries and vehicles of Odisha Construction Corporation on March 15 night protesting arrest of two of their cadres in Chhura forests.
The Lower Indra irrigation project, which started in 1999-00 with an estimated cost of Rs 211 crore, has remained incomplete. The project, which was scheduled to be completed by 2003-04, will take another two years, official sources said.
Meanwhile, the project cost has been revised to Rs 1,624.49 crore which is 767 per cent higher than the initial project cost. Already, Rs 1,218 crore has been spent on the project, but irrigation potential for only 1,200 of 29,900 hectares has been created.
Asserting that the project will be completed in 2017, Jena said irrigation potential for 6,000 hectares will be created for the next kharif.
On completion of this project, irrigation facility will be provided to total ayacut area of 29,900 hectares in Khariar, Boden, Bangomunda, Muribahal and Titilagarh blocks. Irrigation potential for 13,500 hectares in 90 villages of Nuapada district and 16,400 hectares covering 122 villages of Balangir district will be created.