Members across party lines on Tuesday demanded in the State Assembly that the State Government make all efforts to build more barrages on various rivers and complete all ongoing mega irrigation projects soon in the interest of farmers.
Initiating a discussion on the Demand for Grants of the Water Resources Department Sukant Kumar Nayak alleged that the State Government has failed in preserving water flowing into the sea every rainy season. The Government has also failed in completing ongoing Mega projects.
Congress Legislature Party Leader slammed the State Government for delay non-completion Mega projects like Lower Indra, Lower Suktel, Ong project during the last 19 years. He said many lift irrigation points have stopped functioning due to lack electricity connection. There is no coordination between the Energy and the Water Resourced Department, he alleged.
BJP member Prafulla Kumar Samal, however, refuted the charges of the Opposition members and said there has been remarkable development in the irrigation sector in the State during the Naveen Patnaik Government.
Among others, Anant Das Debesh Acharya, Meenakshi Mahant and Rohit Pujari of BJD, Mohan Charan Majhi and Bhaskar Madhei of the BJP and Suresh Kumar Routray of the Congress participated in the discussion.
Expenditure of Rs 9274,86,44,000 relating to the Water Resources Department presented by Minister Raghunadan Das was passed after the discussion.