For the last 60 years, the displaced families of lakhanpur block in Jharsuguda district have been demanding lift irrigation facility since the day of construction of the Hirakud Dam.
Former Congress MlA Anup Sai was elected thrice from the Brajrajnagar constituency. Although Sai lost the previous election in BJD ticket, he was appointed by the party as the Chairman of Odisha lift Irrigation Corporation. But even after one and a half years of his term, the progress of lift irrigation in his own constituency of lakhanpur has been far from satisfactory.
Sources said that 13,101 hectares of cultivable land is available in 33 panchayats of lakhanpur block along with 12,716 hectares non-paddy land. 23 minor irrigation projects irrigate a total of about 16,78.86 hectares land. likewise, out of 62 projects of Odisha lift irrigation Corporation, 1,446 hectares land of the Odisha Agro Industries are irrigated through three water projects and 3,178 deep wells.
In total, 6,969.86 hectares land is irrigated in Kharif season according to the Agriculture Department records. With this figure, practically only about 25 per cent land is irrigated in lakhanpur Block, which falls short of the State Government target of 33 per cent. The deficiency is mainly attributed to defective irrigation points. Unconfirmed sources say that the actual irrigation percentage will vary between 18 and 20.
During 2011, a detailed project report on the State of five large irrigation projects in Jharsuguda district was sent to the lift Irrigation Corporation. Accordingly, Kudabaga under lakhanpur block, Mahulipali and Renkuli villages were selected for these projects. For Kudabaga project, 1,000 hectares of land of Kudabaga, Duanmuda, Bhanarachaka, Gobindapur, Kadamdihi, Parasan, Sahupada and Sagarpali villages are missing in irrigation records. For Mahulpali project, 2,200 hectares land of Mahulpali, Kandeikala, Remada, Bikheli and Kiridmal are available for irrigation. Similarly for Renkuli Greater Irrigation Project, around 1,000 hectares land of Renkuli, Nachenmura, Palsada, Naikpada, Ankuli, Mahasingh, Bikapali and Panchagan villages could be irrigated.
The farmers of the lakhanpur block are disillusioned with the slow pace of lift irrigation in the district and are directly bearing the brunt of bureaucratic inefficiency.
Despite repeated attempts, former MlA Sai was not available for comments.