While the proposed Kanpur multipurpose irrigation project is yet to be completed and its estimate cost has risen from Rs 432 crore in 2007 to Rs 2,200 crore by now, Minister Badri Narayan Patra’s ignorance about the Keonjhar district’s dream project has worried lakhs of farmers a lot.
The project aiming to benefit 20 lakh farmers started in 2007 at an estimated cost of Rs 432 crore was targeted to be completed by 2012. While the project is yet to be completed, its estimate cost has risen to more than Rs 2,200 crore. Meanwhile, the project work has been stalled due to the agitation being resorted to by affected people since March 17, 2016. The affected people are demanding compensation and rehabilitation as per the RR Policy 2013.
Minister Patra, who is an MlA from Ghashipura of the district, was here to inaugurate the proposed mega water supply project at Mirigsingha on Sunday. What he said in response to a question of The Pioneer reporter stunned all present there.
“I am not aware of the Kanpur irrigation project status,” he said.
Hearing this from Patra, people, including mediapersons, present there were dumfounded and denounced his ignorance as he had come passing the Kanpur project to the water supply site a few minutes back.
locals have started talking about the project in different ways now.
“The irrigation project comes under the Water Resourced Department headed by the Chief Minister. Hence, the Minister might not have wanted to give any comment on the project,” some locals remarked. To this, others said how then he pokes his nose in other matters of the district which don’t come under his portfolio.