While 12 dams and barrages have been constructed and six more are underway over the Brahmani river’s two tributaries, Shanka and Koel, in Jharkhand, construction work of the lone barrage-cum-bridge on river Koel at Rourkela, for which foundation-stone had been laid by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik four years back, is yet to begin.
This was revealed from the information furnished by Chief Minister Patnaik in the State Assembly in response to a question of BJP MlA Dilip Ray on Monday.
The Chief Minister had laid foundation stone for a barrage at Baikuntha Ghat near Rourkela on July 9, 2013. While the barrage had to be built at ` 446 crore, construction work hasn’t yet begun.
The barrages and dams already constructed on Shankha and Koel and five of six barrages underway in the neibouring State are meant for irrigation while one ongoing project is meant for hydropower generation, informed the Chief Minister.