Govt sets July deadline for Kanpur dam project | Bhubaneswar News
Keonjhar: State govt has announced plans to complete the construction of Kanpur dam, the state’s second major river embankment project, by July. The announcement came during a high-level inspection of the project site in Keonjhar district’s Joda block on Sunday.
Development commissioner and additional chief secretary of water resources department, Anu Garg, who led the technical team, said the project would initially irrigate 13,000 hectares this year, eventually covering 29,000 hectares upon completion.
However, the project currently faces technical challenges with the ongoing depletion sluice work temporarily disrupting water flow in the lower reaches of the Baitarani river. Project construction engineer Prasad Ranjan Panda assured that work would resume shortly, while installation of 12 radial gates and concrete work of the spillway remain pending.
“Water release through the depletion sluice will be regulated to benefit agricultural activities,” Garg stated during a media interaction. She also confirmed that eight out of nine rehabilitation villages have been constructed for displaced families, adding that industrial water supply would only be considered after meeting drinking water needs.
The disruption has affected approximately 10 downstream villages, whose residents appealed to Garg for immediate resolution. Some villagers, initially prevented from meeting the commissioner by dam officials, later submitted their grievances.
The inspection team included Keonjhar collector Vishal Singh, chief engineer (water resources), Chandra Shekhar Padhi, and other senior project officials.
Development commissioner and additional chief secretary of water resources department, Anu Garg, who led the technical team, said the project would initially irrigate 13,000 hectares this year, eventually covering 29,000 hectares upon completion.
However, the project currently faces technical challenges with the ongoing depletion sluice work temporarily disrupting water flow in the lower reaches of the Baitarani river. Project construction engineer Prasad Ranjan Panda assured that work would resume shortly, while installation of 12 radial gates and concrete work of the spillway remain pending.
“Water release through the depletion sluice will be regulated to benefit agricultural activities,” Garg stated during a media interaction. She also confirmed that eight out of nine rehabilitation villages have been constructed for displaced families, adding that industrial water supply would only be considered after meeting drinking water needs.
The disruption has affected approximately 10 downstream villages, whose residents appealed to Garg for immediate resolution. Some villagers, initially prevented from meeting the commissioner by dam officials, later submitted their grievances.
The inspection team included Keonjhar collector Vishal Singh, chief engineer (water resources), Chandra Shekhar Padhi, and other senior project officials.
