House panel: Go for fast-track projects

BHUBANESWAR: The Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources Department has asked the State Government to execute fasttrack irrigation projects with short gestation period to cater to the needs of farmers post-monsoon.

The committee observed that major and medium irrigation projects do not provide immediate benefits to the farmers.

In this context, the panel appreciated the concept of check dams which would serve the purpose of meeting the irrigation needs of the farmers for rabi crop.

It asked the Water Resources Department to construct more check dams in streams, rivers and canals in all districts, particularly in drought-prone and water-deficit areas and blocks with less than 35 per cent irrigation facility.

This will help conservation of water in the post-monsoon period for irrigation and drinking water purposes and groundwater recharge, it added.

The panel, however, maintained that the Water Resources Department should conduct a viability study by the field staff to assess the actual position prior to construction of check dams in different districts and simultaneously convene a joint meeting with people’s representatives and beneficiaries before the finalisation of the scheme.

Besides, the committee recommended that a provision of Rs 25 crore should be made in the supplementary budget for upgradation and maintenance of embankment roads in flood-prone areas.

Steps should also be taken for early repair of saline embankment from Paramandapur Halidibandha to Chandbali Nuadhamara and strengthening of Chandbali-Hengupati embankment in Balasore district, it said.

The committee members observed that because of inadequate budgetary allocations, repair and renovation of defunct lift irrigation points are not readily taken up, as a result the farming community faces immense hardship. It also maintained that the field channels need repair and renovation on priority basis to ensure optimum utilisation of available irrigation potential.

It recommended that additional budgetary provision of Rs 25 crore be made for repair of defunct LI points. The members demanded that electrification works be undertaken by the Orissa Lift Irrigation Corporation (OLIC) before the LI points are handed over to pani panchayats.