Farmers appeal CM Naveen, Pandian for completion of Rukuna MIP in Angul before paddy-cropping season

Angul, April 30: Farmers of at least three Gram Panchayats in Angul have demanded completion of Rukuna Minor Irrigation Project which is under construction for the last 30 years, before this paddy-cropping season. 

Thousands of paddy-croppers have appealed the Chief Minister and Chairman 5T VK Pandian to review the field-level development of the irrigation project, which was approved and sanctioned by former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.

Rukuna Minor Irrigation Project which is under Construction on Rukuna Nalah at Khinda village under the Angul Block is yet to be completed. The Minor Irrigation (MI) wing of the Water Resources Department had asserted to complete the whole project before October 2020, following a number of farmers’ revolt. The check dam, sluice gate, the siphon system and the network of canal should be fully constructed within the stipulated time. However, the check dam has only been completed so far. The executing agency has not yet completed the dam and the canal network.

According to the reports, at least 13 thousand farmers, belonging to three GPs are frantically waiting for the project to kick-start paddy cultivation from this Akshay Tritiya. However, they apprehend scanty rainfall and acute drought as the IMD has predicted less rain in Odisha in the coming agriculture year. Thus, farmers under the aegis of Angul Zilla Krushak  Samaj have appealed the authorities to complete the project before the monsoon breaks so that the farmers won’t face any drought situation this year.

The Convener of the farmers ally Angul Zilla Krushak Samaj Dharanidhar Sahu has appealed the authorities to make the project functional from this crop season dispensing the dam water in the existing canal before this monsoon.