The mega Chheligada medium irrigation project, that aims to irrigate 1,320 hectares land in Gajapati and Ganjam districts, has not made much headway since its commissioning in 2005. Lawyer Srikant Padhi submitted a memorandum addressed to the Vigilance SP at Brahmapur on Friday demanding to resume the Chheligada Project work in the light of the reported directives issued by the Orissa High Court.
Padhi in his memorandum stated that for 33 different projects currently under implementation under AIBP scheme of the Union Government in the State, the Union Government had sanctioned Rs 3,537 crore in favour of the State Irrigation Department in which the Chheligada Project is included. But unfortunately, the works of only nine out of the 33 projects were completed in the year 2009 where as the works of the remaining 24 projects are still lying incomplete for the reasons best known to the State Government, Padhi pointed out.
In addition to these pending projects, an amount of Rs 836 crore is said to have been misappropriated by the State Government as reflected in the Audit Report of the CAG, Padhi claimed.
According to information available, Padhi had filed a petition before the HC in 2011 praying for constitution of an Inquiry Commission to probe the delay in completion of the much neglected Chheligada Irrigation Project by the State Government. In the month of March, the court reportedly directed the petitioner to submit his complaint before the investigating agencies like CBI and Vigilance Cell.
Padhi has submitted the memorandum before the SP (Vigilance), Brahmapur demanding an impartial probe into the delay in implementation of the project and misappropriation of fund. If the matter is not impartially probed, he will be compelled to take legal recourse once again, Padhi cautioned.
The Government of India had launched an ambitious Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme in the year 1996-97 to provide Central assistance to the States for the major/medium irrigation projects in the country, with the objective to accelerate implementation of advanced stage irrigation projects held up due to financial constraints.