Expressbuzz, Jan 15, 2010
BHAWANIPATNA: Doubts are being raised on the prospects of rabi crop in Kalahandi with apprehension of water shortage and acute moisture-stress condition during the peak period.
Based on the soil moisture and availability of water, the Agriculture Department has planned for rabi crops on 2,15,433 hectares (ha) of which, irrigation was available to 87,924 ha, that is 10,000 ha less than in the last rabi season.
Despite the lower target, doubts are being raised on the rabi target due to dwindling water table in the minor irrigation projects and the Indravati reservoir and field moisture content.
Of 87,924 ha, irrigation water for 45,677 ha would be provided by Indravati project as against the previous year’s 55,173 ha. Of this 33,676 ha will be irrigated by left canal and only 12,000 ha by right canal system of the project.
The water level of the project at present is 637 metres as against a minimum reservoir level of 625. Last year during this period, the water level was 638.2 metres.
To meet the irrigation demand, the project stopped power generation from November last. “As against power generation capacity of 600 MW, from November an average of just 10 MW is being generated to retain the water level for irrigation,” said General Manager of Indravati Hydro Power Corporation Chaitanya Behera. The present water level would be adequate to meet the irrigation needs, he added.
The condition of minor irrigation projects is no better. The district has 95 minor irrigation projects but 31 of them are partially defunct while six are completely defunct. Only 46 are capable of providing irrigation in the rabi season which is less than the designed ayacut.
Of 4588 ha, irrigation programme for the ensuing rabi season has been made for only 3600 ha. Apart from this, irrigation plan was also prepared for 1,27,509 ha non-irrigated land basing on soil moisture status. But it is apprehended that a major portion of this land would lose soil moisture in the peak period.
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