Defunct lift irrigation (LI) points in the district have left the farmers worried who are readying to begin works for the rabi season.
While some LI points are not functioning due to lack of power supply, others are damaged awaiting renovation.
Around 252 new LI points were installed by Lift Irrigation Corporation in Ganjam, but only 10 of them are functional now as Southco is yet to provide electricity to the rest.
Of 4.34 lakh hectares (ha) of cultivable land in the district, 2.58 lakh ha was targeted to be irrigated with LI points covering 18 per cent of the total cultivable area.
Each LI pont has the potential to irrigate at least 20 hectares of land. The district has a total of 1,474 LI points of which 574 have been lying defunct for several years.
Saminachal Nahak of Rushikulya Ryot Mahasabha said for farmers, the only source of irrigation now is lift irrigation as almost all the water bodies and reservoirs have dried up in summer. “Although State Government has been releasing funds at regular intervals for renovation of water bodies, LI points and reservoirs, the funds return unused due to callousness of the executing agencies,” he alleged.
Citing instances, he said canal system of Ghodahada reservoir, canals in Purushottampur, Digapahandi and Ganjam are damaged.
“For rabi season, the district administration released water from reservoirs to agricultural fields, but most of the water is being wasted due to damages in the canals,” Nahak said.
Officials concerned said 161 LI points have been completely damaged and cannot be renovated. “The others will be renovated before June-end with `23.75 crore under Biju Krishi Vikas Yojana and Backward Region Grant Funds that were sanctioned by the Government for revival of LI points,” an official said.
The State Government had earlier this year announced to set up 500 LI points under Biju Krushak Vikash Yojana in the district this year. This apart, there are plans for setting up 32 deep borewells this year.
