The Gangadhar Utha Jalasechan Prakalpa (lift irrigation project) was the Bijepur bi-election promise of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Even, the CM contested from Bijepur during the general election in 2019 and won with that big promise.
However, the Opposition blamed that it was only an election gimmick. But the Water Resources Department has begun the work putting an end to all criticisms and speculations too.
And to know the progress of the work, Water Resources Minister Raghunandan Das on Tuesday held a review meeting in Bargarh where two MLAs Debesh Acharya and Rita Sahu, Bargarh Collector Monisha Mukherjee, Chief Engineer of Hirakud Dam Project (HDP) Ananda Chandra Sahu, all senior officials of the Water Resources Department were present.
Chief Engineer Sahu presented the details of the project that is to be completed in two phases.
He also narrated how water would be lifted from Turum, one of the tail ends of Bargarh canal system under Hirakud Command Area, through a 3.8 metre diameter iron pipe to higher places and then be distributed through earthen canal system.
“Four blocks of Bargarh district and one block of Subarnapur (Sonepur) district would get the benefit of the lift irrigation project and the highest 15, 600 hectares from Bijepur block will get the irrigation facility,” Sahu informed.
Besides the above two, the three other blocks to be benefitted are Sohela, Barpali and Bargarh, Sahu added.
The officials informed the Minister that the project designed to irrigate 31, 500 hectares of land in total five blocks, mainly comprising rain-fed areas, would be completed by the end of March 2023.
“The main canal will be 34 km long with further branch canals meant for increasing irrigation potentiality of the region and also strengthening the very financial backbone of the farmers,” informed Minister Das.