Dry canals in monsoon hit Jagatsinghpur farmers

Farmers in several blocks of neighbouring Jagatsinghpur district are unable to start paddy cultivation as irrigation water has not been released to branch outlets.
Cattle left to feed on damaged paddy saplings in Patnagarh of Balangir district | Express
Cattle left to feed on damaged paddy saplings in Patnagarh of Balangir district | Express

JAGATSINGHPUR: At a time when Jajpur and Kendrapara districts are reeling under flood fury, the farmers in several blocks of neighbouring Jagatsinghpur district are unable to start paddy cultivation as irrigation water has not been released to branch outlets of Machgaon and Taladanda canals.According to sources, sowing and transplantation of paddy has been delayed in Kujang, Tirtol, Balikuda, Naugaon, Raghunathpur, Biridi and Jagatsinghpur blocks. Out of 1,08,751 hectares (ha) of cultivable land, 73,955 ha are irrigated by Taladanda and Machgaon canals while the rest 3,0380 ha are rain-fed. 

Every crop season, the Agriculture Department prepares a district irrigation plan under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for creation and development of water resources and strengthening water distribution network to enhance agriculture production. But, implementation of the plan remains confined to pen and paper, the farmers alleged.Farmers’ leader Rashmiranjan Swain said preparing district irrigation plan under PMKSY is just an eyewash as nothing is being done to either repair the canals or harvest water for irrigation. 

The sources said while both the canals are being repaired in several areas, whatever water is being released to them does not reach the tail end. For instance, branch canals 13, 15,16,17 and 18 of Taladanada provide irrigation to 15,728 ha in Kujang block. Currently, these branch canals have completely dried up.
While renovation of Taladanda is going on since 2010 with assistance from Asian Development Bank, work on Machgaon canal was started last year. In 2010, irrigation department had started renovation and upgradation of Taladanda canal from Biribati to Bhutmundei and it was targeted to complete it by 2014. With the work still continuing, the farmers are facing a harrowing time.

Similarly, work on Machgaon canal was started in 2016 and will continue till 2018 thus washing away the hopes of farmers for irrigation water. Executive Engineer of Mahanadi South Division Beleswarnath Sahoo said the release of water from Taladanda is very less due to blockades and siltation in many parts of the canal. Work has already started to clear these blockades, he added.

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