State spends Rs 8,627 crore on irrigation projects in 10 years

The Orissa government has spent Rs 8,627.59 crore on various irrigation projects in the past 10 years and extended irrigation facilities to 4.45 lakh hectares in the state.

Under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), the state has spent Rs 3576.55 crore on major and medium irrigation projects, bringing over 60,000 hectares of land under irrigation and strengthening irrigation facilities in over 21000 hectares of land.

Responding to an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition Congress on alleged irregularities and untimely expenditure of funds by the water resources department, parliamentary affairs minister Raghunath Mohanty said, “From 2000 till the end of March 2010, the state government has spent Rs 8627.59 crore on various irrigation projects and extended irrigation facilities to 4.45 lakh hectares in the state.

Under AIBP, we have incurred an expenditure of Rs 3576.55 crore on major and medium irrigation projects. Similarly, under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), the state has taken up 50 major and medium irrigation projects and 341 minor irrigation projects.”

He was responding on behalf of the state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who holds the water resources portfolio.

Mohanty admitted that various irrigation projects were facing time and cost overrun due to delay in land acquisition and grant of forest clearance as well as rehabilitation of the affected people.

He said, a monitoring committee has been set up to expedite these irrigation projects and monthly review meeting is being done to check the status of land acquisition for these projects.

Besides, secretary (water resources) is reviewing the physical progress of irrigation projects and expenditure incurred on such projects every month.

Refuting the Opposition's allegations of irregularities in award of work to contractors for irrigation projects, he stated that e-procurement has been introduced to ensure transparency.

However, the Opposition MLAs from Congress and BJP staged a walkout from the assembly while the minister responded to the motion.

The adjournment motion was moved by Bhupinder Singh, leader of the Opposition.

Singh alleged that there were large scale irregularities in the execution of irrigation projects and the water resources department was unable to execute the projects on time, leading to tie overrun and cost escalation.