Jajpur: The left bank canal of Rengali multi-purpose project across the Brahmani river has developed cracks between RD 71.313 km and 100.49km.
As a result, water is seeping through the cracks along the 22 km-long stretch from Odisha village under Bhuban block in Dhenkanal district to Madhapur village under Sukinda block in Jajpur district.
This was known from the minutes of the Rengali Project’s second project coordination committee (PCC) meeting.
At the meeting, chief engineer of the water resources department Deeptiranjan Panda said construction of the canal lining is the only option left to stop water seeping.
And to carry out the canal lining work, Rs 66 crore from Canal Lining and System Rehabilitation Programme (CLSRP) fund will be utilized, it was learnt.
It has been alleged that the necessity of spending extra Rs 66 crore has arisen due to the contractor’s lackadaisical attitude and use of low quality construction materials.
The Rengali multi-purpose project was envisioned in the eighties. The objective of the project was to control flood, generate electricity and irrigate farmlands.
As per the report, a loan agreement was signed between Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the state government March 30, 2015. Of the total budgetary outlay of Rs 2,225.30 crore, JICA’s share was Rs 1,787.30 crore.
A period of eight years from 2015-16 to 2022-23 was fixed for completion of the project. From the present state of the work, the progress can be termed as unsatisfactory.
While only 36 per cent of the work has been completed, the concerned department has estimated that the project would be completed by the end of July, 2024.
While it was estimated to irrigate 39,416 hectares of farmlands under six blocks in three districts like Dhenkanal, Jajpur and Keonjhar, it now irrigates 9,558 hectares.
It would irrigate 9,000 hectares, 5,000 hectares and 15,828 hectares by July, 2022; July, 2023 and July 2024 respectively. For this, construction of two canals — right bank canal (RBC) and left bank canal (LBC) – is underway.
In the second project coordination committee meeting, the members pointed out that issues relating to land acquisition and forests have been affecting the construction work.
Hence, the chief secretary directed that a monthly meeting with the contractor on its progress should be held to expedite the construction work. Notably, the length of the left bank canal is 141 kilometres.
A total 2,129 hectare is required for the canal. Only 1,700 hectare has been acquired. The rest 429 hectares are yet to be acquired. As of now, seepage of water at different places of the canal from Odisha to Madhapur has been a cause of headache for the officers of the concerned department.
However, the canal from RD 71.313km to RD 100.49km has got weakened. Farmers have blamed the use of substandard materials in the construction work for the present condition of the canal.
As per the information available, Biraja Construction, DD Builder, GVV Construction and Durga Construction were then carrying out its construction work.
This apart, a nexus between the concerned contractors and the engineer has also been responsible for it, some alleged. If no immediate repair is carried out, it is feared that the canal may collapse and destroy thousands acres of farmlands.
Chief engineer Deeptiranjan Panda said, “The allegation of low quality work is baseless. The water is seeping because the canal is constructed on laterite stone zone. Canal lining is the only option to fix the problem. For this, it has been decided that the work will be carried out spending Rs 66 crore, at a rate of Rs 3 crore per kilometre.”
PNN