Keonjhar: Delay in forest clearance has hit the Kanupur irrigation project in Keonjhar district pushing completion of the much-awaited dam project into uncertainty as it is set to miss the deadline. It was expected that the project will become operational after works get completed by December this year. However, that is not going to happen as the project is yet to receive forest clearance. Notably, the irrigation project is being constructed on Baitarani River at Basudevpur under Joda block in Keonjhar district. The project was envisaged 40 years ago but was implemented only in 2002 after it received approval of the planning committee. The project is expected to irrigate 29,000 hectare of farmlands in Joda, Champua, Jhumpura, Sadar, and Patana blocks of Keonjhar district.
The Water Resources department claimed that 90 per cent of the project work has been completed. However, the project has been mired in uncertainty in the final leg due to delays in forest clearance. Several works on the project are yet to be completed owing to the delay. Sources said works on the main dam, spillway, and canal are yet to be completed while land acquisition, rehabilitation and compensation works are also lagging.
On the other hand, the plan outlay has increased to Rs 2,438 crore. While it is apprehended that its budget will shoot up to Rs 3,000 crore by the time it is completed, the project is also likely to miss the deadline as announced by the state government. Senior Water Resources official Prasanna Pani said there is an urgent need for forest clearance as the canal passes through Champua, Sadar, and Patana forest ranges. He, however, said that works on the dam and spillway have been completed while the rest is yet to start due to a delay in the sanction of forest clearance. A survey was undertaken to identify the volume of forest land in these ranges after the Water Resources department applied for clearance. The survey indicated the presence of 310.11 hectare of forest land at 839 places under these forest ranges, he said.
An enumeration of trees was undertaken and 60,000 trees were identified for felling in 2016. The Water Resources department has deposited around Rs 90 crore with the Forest department during the last eight years towards loss of forest cover, he said. The canal and the rest of the works have failed to make any headway without the forest clearance. No action has been taken on the report which is lying with the Forest Department for the last five years. The girth of the tree trunks and their height has also increased during these years, he said. There will be fresh problems if the Forest department permits the felling of the trees.
As a result, a fresh enumeration of trees is being undertaken, he said. The Forest department is asking to deposit more money but not telling the exact amount of money that needs to be deposited. They would deposit the money as and when the Forest department notifies them about the amount, he added. Champua forest ranger Akshaya Chhatria said the trees are being counted afresh as their girth and height have increased during these years. More than half of the trees have been counted while counting of rest of the trees is underway.