Irrigation project worth Rs 10 crore to come up in Maoist-hit block in Odisha

KORAPUT: Odisha government plans to spend around Rs 10 crore on a minor irrigation project in Maoist-hit Narayanpatna block of Koraput district.

"The block lacks proper irrigation facilities and the tribals solely depend on monsoon and stream water to cultivate land. A diversion weir project would provide them water round the year," said Superintending Engineer of Minor Irrigation department ( Jeypore), Akshaya Kumar Banerjee.

The minor irrigation project will be constructed between Chintabeda and Kunduguda villages to check the flow of water from Jhanjabati River. It will help irrigate 1,000 hectare of agriculture land in the block.

"The survey work for the project, which comprises the main dam and a canal of at least 10 km, is nearing completion and tender process will soon start," Banerjee said adding a proposal on large-scale land development would soon be sent to the government and the district administration.

The Maoist-backed Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh had dug up a water channel of about 5 km to divert water from the river to agriculture land last year, protesting against the government inaction in facilitating irrigation project in the block, sources added.