BHUBANESWAR: After drawing flak from various quarters over poor river management, the state government on Thursday said it would spend over Rs 75,000 crore for development of water resource in the next five years. Several dam projects would be taken up on Mahanadi basin, its tributaries and other major rivers to ensure irrigation and drinking water for people, said an official source.According to a statement issued by the chief minister’s office, chief minister Naveen Patnaik has directed the state water resources department to prepare a comprehensive river policy in next three months with potential places where water resources projects can be developed.The announcement came a day after launching protest against the Chhattisgarh for obstructing flow of Mahanadi water into Odisha by constructing barrages on the upstream. During his visit to Jharsuguda on Wednesday, Naveen reviewed irrigation and drinking water projects in four districts—Sambalpur, Bargarh, Jharsuguda and Sundargarh--in presence of senior state government officials and district collectors.Though the state government is yet to reveal detail river management plan, sources said over Rs 400 crore would be spent in next three years for modernization of Bargarh Main Canal and Sasan canal as it develops frequent breaches creating panic among farmers in Bargarh and Sambalpur districts. The canal system was developed during 1950s during construction of Hirakud reservoir.According to sources, the chief minister has directed the water resources department to expedite implementation of the Ong irrigation project near Padampur sub-division in Bargarh district, proposed way back in 1945 with a new design to avoid submergence. Over 2,000 crore would be spent in the project, which at its current design would submerge around 30000 villagers. Villagers, who fear to be displaced due to the project, recently urged President Ram Nath Kovind to either direct the project to be deferred or give them permission for euthanasia.“Though several major and medium irrigation projects were proposed by successive governments since past several decades, most of these projects could not be taken off due to issues like land acquisition, displacement and rehabilitation. The chief minister has directed to look for places to take up barrages over Mahanadi and its tributaries and distributaries which would cause minimum displacement. We would soon start survey for potential places,” said an official in the water resources department requesting anonymity.Recently, water resources secretary P K Jena announced to execute seven projects over Mahanadi to ensure irrigation and drinking water. Besides, as many as 22 other projects, which are under various stages of implementation on various rivers, are targeted to complete in next five years. These projects include Tel integrated irrigation project in Nabrangpur district, Kharga (Kandhamal), Salki (Kandhamal and Boudh), Ret Utei (Kalahandi), Lower Lanth and Upper Lanth in Balangir district besides Ong, Jira and Ranjore projects in Bargarh district.The chief minister also advised to start tender process of the Gangadhar Meher Megalift Canal System in three months. The first of its kind project planned with an investment of Rs 1250 crore would ensure irrigation in about 25,000 hectares in drought-prone lands in Bijepur, Sohela and Barpali blocks in Bargarh district.Water conservation activist Ranjan Kumar Panda said more than construction-oriented activities, the state government should focus more on recharging and rejuvenation of water bodies, natural streams to conserve water.

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