ODISHA CM INAUGURATES LOWER SUKTEL IRRIGATION PROJECT IN BALANGIR

Bhubaneswar(03/01/2024): Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday launched the much awaited Lower Suktel Irrigation Project in Balangir district. The project worth Rs 2,723 crore, considered to be a major leap of development for the agrarian community in the drought-prone district, aims to facilitate irrigation in more than one lakh acre farmland in 203 villages of Balangir and Sonepur districts while benefiting around 80,000 farmers.

The project is touted to have the ninth major dam in the state at a height of 31 metre, a 1,155 metre long earthen dam and a 255 metre long spillway.

This apart, it will also provide drinking water facility in the area to over 70,000 people. While the project’s foundation stone had been laid in 2001 by the CM, the project had faced inordinate delay over rehabilitation and resettlement issues which in turn had led to cost escalation from an initial Rs 217 crore to nearly Rs 3,000 crore. The Chief Minister’s Office stated that there will be no displacement for irrigation as pressurised underground pipelines will be laid for the purpose. Hailing the sacrifices of families displaced from 29 villages for the project, the Chief Minister said their contribution will be remembered for posterity. The Lower Suktel Project will herald a new chapter in the agricultural development of Balangir district as woes of farmers in the drought-prone district will dissipate with irrigation facility.

Balangir is progressing in education, health and infrastructure.

Now the district will take great strides in agriculture as well with the launch of the Lower Suktel project.