Irrigation Department's failure exposed again

Of the total 2,731 irrigation projects/schemes in the State, only 1,308 projects/schemes are fully/partially functiol and rest of the projects/schemes have become defunct over the years. 

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, March 11: The State Irrigation Department is one of the most crucial departments of the Assam government but the department has proved to be a major failure despite it being so vital for the majority of the State’s populace dependent on agriculture.

The failure of the Irrigation Department was again exposed in the Assembly on Wednesday when the Irrigation Minister Chandan Sarkar informed that the construction of the Bordikorai Irrigation Project in Sonitpur district has not yet been fully completed. The construction of the scheme was started in 1975-76 and 94 per cent of the work has been completed till date, the Minister added.

According to the minister, the Bordikorai Irrigation Project has been launched to provide water to 15,994 hectares of agri land in that area but after 40 years water is being provided to only 8,800 hectares of agri land through the semi-finished scheme.

Sarkar further informed the House that of the total 2,731 irrigation projects/schemes in the State, only 1,308 projects/schemes are fully/partially functiol and rest of the projects/schemes have become defunct over the years.

The issue was raised by AGP MLAs Phani Bhusan Chowdhury and Padma Hazarika.

Since 2001 when the Gogoi government came to power in the State, 1,308 irrigation projects/schemes were taken up by the department concerned but the construction of only 574 projects/schemes have been completed so far.

OUR AZARA CORRESPONDENT ADDS: In the Azara-Rani area on the outskirts of Guwahati, many irrigation projects/schemes have either become defunct or are partially operatiol despite spending crores of rupees by the department concerned. “Due to non-availability of sufficient irrigation projects and non-functioning of many such projects, most of paddy fields have dried up in the area,” sources added.

Though Kalmoni Irrigation Project, Kopili Irrigation Project and Ubhati Irrigation  Project are officially shown functiol, practically these projects are now of no use and on the verge of being defunct.

Similarly, some water supply projects at Dharapur and Majirgaon areas are also on the verge of being defunct.