Odisha fails to achieve irrigation target

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, July 14: Odisha Government’s target for providing 35 per cent irrigation facilities was not achieved for 152 blocks and supply of minimum drinking water was not assured in 95 urban local bodies, according to the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.Failure to follow Odisha Irrigation Act 1959 and Odisha Irrigation Rules 1961 led to non collection of water rates including energy compensation charges, penalty etc.amounting to Rs.9,503.31 crore, according to CAG.According to the report on the economic sector for the year ended March 2013, as per the action plan Odisha planned expansion of irrigation coverage aimed at growth of infrastructure throughout the State.Odisha Government decided in 2005-06 to draw Master Plant for each district to provide at least 35 per cent irrigation in all the 314 blocks during the plan period from 2005-06 to 2009-10.“Out of 61.65 lakh hectare of cultivable land in 314 blocks, irrigation facilities were created for 30.89 lakh hectares and 198 blocks had less than 35 per cent irrigation facilities as of March 2005, according to the CAG report.“During 2006-12, Department of Water Resources could provide minimum 35 per cent irrigation to 46 blocks and the rest 152 blocks continue to remain less than the minimum 35 per cent irrigation facilities though identified before 2005-06.“Zone wise details of blocks revealed that 67 out of 95 blocks (70 per cent) of 10 districts in Northern Zone (Western Odisha) had not received the minimum 35 per cent irrigation facilities.“Out of ten districts, in seven there was no improvement in irrigation during the last seven years.Similarly, 45 out of 104 blocks (43 per cent) of ten districts in Southern Zone and 40 out of 115 blocks (35 per cent) of ten districts in Central Zone had not received minimum irrigation facilities,” the CAG noted in its report.“Government stated (January 2014) that as of June 2013, sixty of out of the 198 blocks (having less than 35 per cent irrigation) had achieved 35 per cent irrigation potential and efforts are being made to augment irrigation potential in the deficit blocks through conventional and other sources of irrigation,” according to the report of the CAG.