New Delhi: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday dedicated to the people of Bolangir the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project which – after the completion of its distribution system next year – will irrigate nearly one lakh acres across 203 villages, benefitting 75,000 farmers.
Bolangir has been historically arid and dry and gets an average 110 centimetres of rainfall every year. The region, where only 31 percent is irrigated, is prone to poverty, droughts and distress migration.
With the completion of this project, it is expected that the drought-prone district will enjoy growth like the nearby districts of Bargarh and Sambalpur which are watered by the Hirakud dam and Kalahandi, served by the Upper Indravati dam.
The project, stalled for over two decades for multiple reasons such as public agitation and political protests, will be a game-changer for Bolangir, experts said.
The project will also serve the drinking water needs of the Bolangir Municipality and Patnagarh.
Patnaik decided in 2019 that this project would be taken up under the state’s 5T initiative, with the Ts standing for teamwork, transparency, technology, time, and transformation.
Then secretary to the chief minister V.K. Pandian monitored the project, and decisions pending for years were cleared, at times in 24 hours. Pandian also undertook field visits and quarterly reviews.
Concrete efforts were also taken to sensitise people on the long term socio-economic benefits of the project, political opinions were accommodated cutting across party lines; and generous compensation were given.
Work resumed in January 2021. Free ration, temporary work sheds, and conveyance facilities were provided during the evacuation. The resettlement colonies have spacious plots for families, concrete roads and drains, illuminated streets, common ponds, potable water, a temple, a crematorium, Anganwadi centres, schools, and markets. Skill development and financial literacy programmes were also in top focus.
The gains from this project are immense, experts say. There will be round-the-year farm jobs, better farm income, socio-economic upliftment and reverse migration.
The Patnaik government has in the recent past dedicated a slew of big water-infra projects such as the Upper Indravati Lift Canal for Kalahandi, Lower Indra for Nuapada and Bolangir, Deo which serves Mayurbhanj, Telengiri benefitting Koraput district, among others, which irrigate a total of 3.64-lakh acres in the state.