Bhubaneswar: The State Government has either completed or proposed at least 134 irrigation projects for drought-hit Bolangir, Kalahandi and Nuapada (B-K-N) districts of western Odisha.
This was informed by Chief Minister Mohan Chatran Majhi while replying to a question of senior BJD Lawmaker Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo during the ongoing Budget session of the Assembly.
There are two ongoing Major and Medium Irrigation Projects namely Lower Suktel Irrigation Project and Sandul Barrage Project have been taken up to augment the water resources infrastructure in Kalahandi, Bolangir and Nuapada districts. With completion of the projects, irrigation facilities would be created for 45,135 hectares of Bolangir, Subarnapur and Kalahandi districts.
Similarly, to strengthen water resource infrastructure in Kalahandi, Bolangir and Nuapada districts, construction of four in-stream storage structure (ISS) projects are in progress and 8 new ISS projects have been proposed.
Further, to cater irrigation facilities to the upland areas of Western Odisha where normal means of irrigation is not possible five Megalift schemes are under progress and 10 schemes are proposed.
The State Government is now implementing new minor irrigation projects (MIP) for creation of irrigation facilities in drought-prone areas to tackle the situation.
As many as 45 new MIPs are now being implemented in Kalahandi, Nuapada and Bolangir District. After construction of these MIPs, an irrigation facility to 10,600 of ayacut will be created.
For creation of more irrigation facilities, there is a proposal for construction of 7 new MIPs in the above Districts and after construction 1301 hectares of ayacut will be created.
Apart from above, the State Government is also now implementing a special scheme for construction of Check Dams to increase the ground water level in addition to creation of irrigation facilities. Accordingly, 11 new Check Dams are now being implemented in the above region and there is a proposal for construction of further 30 new Check Dams. After construction of these, an irrigation facility to 1256 hectares of ayacut will be created.
Moreover, 32486 Lift Irrigation projects have been completed under different schemes in Kalahandi, Nuapada and Balangir District thereby creating irrigation potential of 2,38,432 hectares out of which 1136 projects are defunct & balance 31,350 nos. are in operable condition with ayacut area of 2,26,537 hectares.
Besides, the Directorate of Ground Water Development is implementing a 5 year scheme from the year 2022-2023 to 2026-2027 towards scarcity issues in drought prone districts like Nuapada and Bolangir.
The district Kalahandi is not included in the scheme. There are specific funds or programmes targeted towards rainwater harvesting systems, the CM said.