BHUBANESWAR: As political parties geared up for the by-poll to Bijepur Assembly constituency, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday announced a birthday gift, a Lift Canal System, for the people of the segment.
The announcement of the `1250-crore project, named Gangadhar Meher Lift Canal System, is purported to be the first of its kind with underground pipeline based irrigation system. It comes days ahead of the imposition of the model code of conduct as the date of the by-poll is likely to be declared by the Election Commission soon.
Augmentation of irrigation potential was a long standing demand of the people of the area which is drought prone and reports suicide by farmers regularly. Stating that the State Government accords topmost priority to agriculture, the Chief Minister said, “We are on course to create additional irrigation potential of 10 lakh hectares in the State during the five year period by 2019.”
The Bijepur Lift Canal System, the Chief Minister said, will irrigate a gross command area of about 32,000 hectares including 25,600 hectares in Kharif and 7000 hectares in Rabi season. The project will pump water from Bargarh main canal through 18-km underground rising main pipeline, where from irrigation will be provided through underground pipelines based distribution system with outlets for every four hectares of land.
The Chief Minister said the project will be developed as a model project for the entire country with latest technologies in irrigation. Four lift irrigation projects at Chikili, Jampali, Tamdei and Jamudpalli with an irrigation capacity of 5920 hectares are under implementation in Bargarh district. Besides, the State Government is soon going to implement another Parvati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation project in Gaisilet block of Bijepur Assembly constituency with an irrigation capacity of 1000 hectares.
The Chief Minister has already announced Ritarani Sahu, widow of Congress MLA Subal Sahu as the BJD’s candidate for the by-poll giving rise to strong resentment in a section of partymen.
Meanwhile, Bijepur witnessed inauguration spree by BJD leaders and ministers in anticipation of announcement of the date of election soon. Projects inaugurated by BJD leaders included a `32-crore railway overbridge at Barpali town, a minor irrigation project, two drinking water projects and an Aahar cheap meal centre at Barpali. Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharya, ministers of state Hemangini Chhuria and Sushant Singh and BJD MLA from Bargarh Debesh Acharya were present at inauguration ceremonies. The BJD also organised workers’ conference for Bijepur block at Sohela on Monday.