SAMBALPUR: Farmers of Sambalpur district, who are already troubled by delay in Rabi paddy procurement, face another hurdle for Kharif crop. The Irrigation Department has postponed the release of water into Sason canal of Hirakud Dam project by nearly a week. The water which was to be released on Tuesday will now be released on June 21.
Sources in the Department said, the decision to delay release of water in Sason was taken due to non-completion of maintenance work. However, water was released into Sambalpur Distributary from Hirakud Dam as per schedule on Tuesday.
Reports said Sason canal system irrigates 21,468 hectares (ha) of land while Sambalpur Distributary irrigates 4,099 ha during Kharif season. Due to inadequate rain so far, the farmers are eagerly awaiting release of water into the canal system to initiate agricultural activities.
Executive Engineer, Sambalpur Irrigation Division, Sushil Kumar Behera said as per schedule, release of water into both the canal systems is stopped from April 30 to June 15 every year after harvest of Rabi crop. However, as water was released during the Rabi season till May 12 this year, required maintenance and repair works could not be completed on time. Since water flow would continue for next six months during the Kharif season leaving little scope for maintenance and repair, the department was forced to postpone the release date to complete the work, he added. Behera said the decision was taken after a discussion with the farmers’ bodies.
However, Chairman of Sason Canal Distributary Committee, Bibhu Pattnaik denied that they were taken into confidence by the Department over the issue.
