BARGARH: Even as District Collector Anjan Kumar Manik visited Kendapali village, following the suicide of farmer Khainu Bagarty, to record his observation, there is no denying that bore-well for irrigation has failed to provide the much-needed succour to farmers in rainfed areas in the district.
While Bargarh, Attabira, Bheden and part of Barpali blocks of the district are irrigated by canal system under Hirakud dam project, the rest eight blocks are unirrigated and depend on rain and bore-well for cultivation. Under such circumstances, bore-wells are lifeline for such farmers and it failed Khainu, forcing him to end his life.
Reports said in 2016-17 fiscal, a target was set to dig 2,622 bore-wells in the district of which 2,341 are functional and rest 281 have failed, exposing the intensity of the water-stressed condition.
Similarly, in 2015-16 fiscal, a target was set to dig up 600 bore-wells but 718 bore-wells were dug up. Of those, 378 bore-wells await power supply to make it functional while 109 bore-wells are lying useless.
On the other hand, the Wesco has been sending bills even to those pani panchayats where electricity has either been disconnected or power has not been supplied. Although there has been a systematic rise in power tariff, there has been no visible strengthening of infrastructure.