Telkoi: Farmers in Telkoi region of Keonjhar district are a worried lot. The water they used to get from Oria minor irrigation project is no loner available to their farmland during the current rabi season.
The water supply was stopped this year. Rabi crops raised in 1200 hectares in the area are likely to be damaged due to want of water.
Worried, famers have taken up the issue with the Collector. Thousands of famers of Oria, Telkoi, Kataraplai, Balisahi, Ramchandrapur, Saraspasi depend on water from the irrigation project. They have been eking out their livelihood by raising green, black grams, pulses, mustard and sunflower.
Local farmers alleged that the authorities of the project are not releasing water in the canals and their crops will wilt in a few days.
The SDO and two engineers engaged in the project are not available in the office most of the time.
Menawhile, Anukul Biswal, a local farmer, has lost his crops over two acres.
SDO Sudhakar Kumar explained that the problem has arisen because the canal work is in progress.
PNN