WEDNESDAY, 16 JANUARY
2013 23:18
PNS | BHUBANESWAR
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The implementation of the Lower Suktel irrigation project
in Balangir district has run into rough weather with the Lower Sukhtel Budi
Anchal Sangram Parishad continuing to insist the State Government to go for
small barrages instead of putting up the major project for the greater interest
of the people.
Though the stalemate in the
implementation of the project virtually had ended following a broad agreement
concerning an 11-point charter of demands of a faction of the Lower Suktel
Joint Action Committee with the State Government at a high level meeting during
the last week of December 2012, the latest high level meeting held here on
Wednesday failed to diffuse the issue raised by the Budi Anchal Sangram
Paridhad comprising people of the 16 villages, who are going to be submerged
due to the project.
Official sources said that the
ten-member delegation under the leadership of Ghunu Sashu, president of the
parishad, raised their concerns before the Government. The meeting was also
attended by Balangir MLA AU Singh Deo.
Sources said the delegation intimated
the Government that the locals of the submerged areas, among other
things, demand shelving the major Lower Suktel Project and implemention of
three four barranges across the river Suktel at
various places.
But the Government also stuck to its
present project design claiming that the project would provide irrigation
potential to around 31,830 hectares of land. Sources said that the Chief
Secretary tried to dismiss the delegation members’ apprehension of non settlement
of the affected families after the project was implemented.
The Chief Secretary clarified that
the Government had already disbursed Rs 83 crore out of the sanctioned Rs 93
crore towards land acquisition. As many as 3,700 families are estimated to be
displaced and out of them 794 families had already expressed their interest to
give up lands for the project, he said.
Patnaik said the Government had
planned to put up three resettlement colonies over 627 acres of land at
Khuajenpalli, Larkipoalli and Hardatel to accommodate 1,666 families. An
estimated Rs 9.14 crore have already been sanctioned for the resettlement
colonies, he informed.
Sources said the cost of the project
was estimated at Rs 217.13 crore as per the 1996 price level intially. Later,
as per 2009 price level, the project cost was revised to Rs 1,041.80 crore. The
project would provide irrigation facilities to 31,830 hectares of land. Out of
it, 23,500 hectares of land would be brought under irrigation in the first
phase.
As per a survey conducted in 2009, as
many as 9,212 families would be affected due to the project. At present, a
socio-economic survey was being conducted in the proposed submerged areas. Till
today the survey had almost been completed in 14 villages and 5,309 families had
been identified.
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