Ending a wait of over two decades, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project in Balangir districton Wednesday.

The project worth Rs 2,723 crore is expected to facilitate irrigation in over one lakh acres of farmland in 203 villages of Balangir and Subarnapur districts while benefiting around 80,000 farmers. The project is touted to have the ninth major dam in the State at a height of 31 meter, a 1,155-meter-long earthen dam and a 255-meter-long spillway. Apart from irrigation, it will also provide drinking water facility in the area to over 70,000 people.

While the project’s foundation stone had been laid in 2001 by the CM, the project faced inordinate delay over rehabilitation and resettlement issues which in turn led to cost escalation from a mereRs 217 crore to nearly Rs 3,000 crore.

In an official release, the Chief Minister’s Office stated that there would be no displacement for irrigation as pressurised underground pipelines would be laid for the purpose.

Hailing the sacrifices of families displaced from 29 villages for the project, the CM said their contribution would be remembered for posterity.

Patnaik said the Lower Suktel Project would herald a new chapter in the agricultural development of Balangir as woes of farmers in the drought-prone district will dissipate with irrigation facility.

In addition, other projects worth a total of Rs 2,525 crore were announced for the district in various sectors. Foundation-stone was laid for 112 projects worth Rs 2,220 crore apart from launching of 69 projects worth Rs 305 crore.

Among others, Health and Family Welfare Minister NiranjanPujari, Balangir MP SangeetaKumari SinghDeo, RajyaSabha member NiranjanBisi, Balangir MLA Narasingha Mishra andPatnagarh MLA  SarojMeher were present.