Even as 18 years have passed since the Chief Minister laid foundation stone in 2001, the Lower Sukhtel project in Balangir district has not seen light of the day yet; and, thus, has triggered a strong resentment among people of the district.
Intellectuals have now urged the Government to start work of the project in better interest of the people of the district. People of Balangir will provide all support for the project, said they.
“People have understood the utility of the project. If the project is undertaken from zero point, then it would be completed in three years,” said senior journalist Sunil Kumar Mishra.
Mishra said thousands of acres of land in Balangir and Subarnapur districts would be irrigated by the project.
According to sources, the project would provide water to 51,000, hectares of land across the two districts.
The State Government has planned to lay underground pipes water pipes, instead of digging canals, to irrigate cultivable lands on the both the sides of the project.
The proposal of laying pipelines will boost the construction of the project as there will be no land acquisition, said some locals.
Besides, water can be distributed to fields till the tail-end and thus there would be no water problem in the lowermost area. There will be no water loss.
Because of pipe system, 85 per cent irrigation intensity can be achieved during Kharif season and 42 per cent during Rabi season. During Kharif, paddy can be cultivated in 22,950 acres of land, millet on 4,080 acres, oilseeds on 5,100 acres, vegetables on 6,120 acres and cereals can be cultivated on 5,100 acres of land.
Similarly, during Rabi season, paddy can be cultivated on 5,100 acres of land, cereals on 5,100 acres and vegetables can be grown on 11,220 acres of land each year.