Water Resources Development Department Principal Secretary Pradeep Jena visited the lower Indra Irrigation Project (lIIP) of Nuapada district on Thursday and reviewed the progress of construction works as well as rehabilitation and resettlement activities of the project. Displeased over the delay in starting of the 0 to 225-mt dam headwork near the spillway, Jena warned the contractor of cancellation of the agreement if he does not start work within three days.
“How the Odisha Construction Corporation (OCC) engaged such a contractor, who doesn’t have the basic equipments,” wondered Jena when he was informed that the contractor Hemanta Mahanty has not even employed the minimum equipments like excavators and trippers. Jena directed the OCC Senior Manager (SM) to cancel the contract if the contractor does not start work in three days.
“Cancel his agreement if he does not mobilise the entire machineries at the worksite within three days,” he told the SM. Jena also urged the lIIP engineers to change their attitude towards the reservoir. “Don’t see the dam as a mere construction work; see it as a reservoir, which has the potential to provide livelihood to thousands of people. Prepare plan for developing infrastructure for production of fingerlings and pisciculture,” he told the officials.
“Take immediate step to remove the trees and logs from the reservoir,” he instructed. He also directed the officials to go in for large-scale plantation after uprooting trees from the reservoir by using machineries like hydraulic tree spades. later, in a discussion with the representatives of displaced persons (DPs) at dam site, the Secretary assured the DPs that the entitlement under PDS and other social security schemes like old age pension of the DPs which have been discontinued after the shifting of settlements would be transferred to their new settlements.
He instructed Nuapada Additional District Magistrate Trilochan Minz to take immediate steps in this regard. The lIIP Chief Engineer, OCC Senior Manager and other officials were present.