Dear Chief Minister Mr Patnaik,
I realized from various sources that the lift irrigation project proposed by state Government recently for Nabarangpur dist to provide water from Indravati reservoir might not be economic viable as it will need large amount of power for lift canal compared to potentially what itself can generate. The same amount of water could also be used to produce electricity through Upper Indravati hydroelectricity project and expand irrigation facilities in the plain area of the state in economic viable conditions.
Similarly, there could be possibility of check dam in Indravati and Tel rivers to irrigate lands in Nabarangpur district.
If a mega check dam could be constructed in Tel river (upper Tel barrage) in the border of Nabarangpur and Chhattisgarh by collaborating with Chhattisgarh Government it will make it possible to irrigate large area of land in Nabarangpur, Koksara and Chhatigarh region in economically viable conditions. This might NOT also need to construct economically less viable mega lift irrigation projects in Nabarangpur district and Koksara block.
On the other hand, during my visit early this year many farmers complained that despite water demand to irrigate in Ravi season lots of water was being released to Mahanadi via Hati and Tel rivers from Upper Indravati Project. It seems there is a mechanical defect to release water to Hati river by default, however, many local farmers allege that such defect was intentional to release water in the interest of irrigating land in coastal Orissa in the summer season. Such confusion in the local level should be clarified and necessary action may be taken to benefit local farmers in Ravi season.
Most of the coal rich regions in Odisha are getting saturated with proposed mega thermal plants, some of these private companies have already shown interest in Balangir, Sonpur, Nayagarh, Bhadrak, Boudh etc to establish mega thermal plants. Many other companies are also transporting coal from Odisha to their respective thermal plants in other states, in that respect Kandhamal, Nuapada and Dharamgarh are not far off from coal belt in Odisha. There is a possibility to encourage private player to establish a mega thermal plant in Dharamgarh region. For water requirement such industrial house may store unwanted water by constructing a barrage over Tel river, which may also help local farmers for irrigation. Junagarh will have soon train link and 10 to 15 km rail link can be easily made by industrial house for coal transportation if required.
Such innovative steps are essential as none of the blocks in Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Nuapada has yet achieved 35% irrigation by March 2010 as per Odisha Government data.
I hope you will look into this matter with the technical experts.
Thank you and best regards
Digambara Patra
No comments:
Post a Comment