Rayagada Lift Irrigation Projects Collapse, Farmers Left Helpless Amid Departmental Negligence
Sudhansu (Bureau chief Southern Odisha)
Rayagada:-19/03/2025- The lift irrigation system in Rayagada district has completely collapsed, leaving thousands of farmers in distress and pushing agricultural activities to the brink of disaster. Out of 898 lift irrigation projects initiated by the government to ensure water supply for cultivation, a staggering 700 have become non-functional. As a result, hundreds of hectares of land remain barren, severely impacting summer crops and depriving farmers of their livelihoods.
Government Inaction and Farmer Despair
Despite repeated assurances and the allocation of significant funds, the department responsible for maintaining these projects has shown little interest in ensuring their functionality. Complaints from farmers about broken-down equipment, lack of maintenance, and the unavailability of skilled technicians have fallen on deaf ears. Even after numerous appeals to departmental officials and engineers, no tangible efforts have been made to revive the inactive projects. This gross negligence has left the farming community helpless, with no means to irrigate their lands and cultivate crops during the crucial Rabi season.
Broken Promises and Mismanaged Schemes
The government had initiated these projects with the intent of providing continuous water supply for agricultural purposes during the Kharif and Rabi seasons. However, these promises have turned into empty rhetoric. The so-called assistance schemes meant to benefit farmers have failed miserably in the district, especially among the tribal population. Due to poor dissemination of information, farmers remain unaware of the schemes, and those who attempt to avail the benefits face bureaucratic hurdles, non-payment of electricity bills, and delayed repairs.
Severe Impact on Agricultural Productivity
The failure of the lift irrigation projects has had a devastating impact on agricultural productivity. While approximately 50,000 hectares of land in the district are under paddy cultivation during the Kharif season, only 1,470 hectares are cultivated during the Rabi season due to the absence of irrigation facilities. Crops such as maize, oilseeds, pulses, mustard, and spices, which rely on irrigation, have suffered immensely. In areas like Rayagada, Padmapur, Kolonara, and Ramanaguda, where the maximum number of projects have turned inactive, farmlands have turned into parched wastelands, making agriculture an uncertain endeavor.
False Claims and Misleading Data
Government documents paint a rosy picture, claiming that over 40,000 hectares of land are irrigated through the Uthasech project. However, the ground reality tells a starkly different story. The Uthala irrigation project, a key component of the system, has become a glaring example of mismanagement. Of the 14 irrigation projects linked to the Kolonara river pipeline, not a single one is currently operational. Farmers who once depended on these projects have been left to fend for themselves, with no recourse to irrigation for the past three years.
Lack of Accountability and Systemic Neglect
The department’s approach appears to be one of apathy and irresponsibility. Their role seems to end after the construction of the projects, with little or no attention given to their maintenance or long-term sustainability. The absence of additional grants for maintaining existing projects further exacerbates the situation. Farmers, who have been repeatedly assured of government support, are now left questioning whether the authorities ever intended to ensure the functionality of these projects.
Bleak Future for Agriculture in Rayagada
If this situation persists, agriculture in Rayagada is on the verge of becoming unsustainable. The failure of these lift irrigation projects has not only deprived farmers of their livelihoods but also jeopardized food security in the region. With no intervention in sight, the farmers of Rayagada continue to bear the brunt of government apathy, while their lands remain barren and their hopes for a secure future wither away.
