Govt appeal farmers not to be misled by false propaganda

Sambalpur, Nov 15 (UNI) The Orissa government has appealed to the agitating farmers in the western part of the state to not to get misled by the false propaganda on the use of Hirakud resorvoir's water for industrial purpose.

About four Ministers from the ruling alliance, who visited the Hirakud command area here in the wake of farmers' agitation against the use of reservoir water for industry, claimed that there would be no shortage of water for irrigation in the area.

They announced that arrangements would be made to ensure that tail ends of all canals of area would receive sufficient water during peak periods as per the demands of the farmers.

State Agriculture Minister S N Nayak and Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal maintained that with the renovation of Sasan canal, formation of Pani Panchayats and water management in the Hirakud reservoir, there has been surplus water in the reservoir.

They said the State Government was committed to the interest of the farmers and alleged that some people with vested interests were deliberately trying to mislead the farmers.

The Ministers, including Transport Minister Jaya Narayan Mishra and Steel and Mines Minister Padmanav Behera, said no government would dare to go against the interest of the farmers as the State largely depended upon the agriculture.

Mr Samal said they would apprise the Chief Minister of the situation and submit their report on the field visits.

In a bid to pacify the agitated farmers, they said with help of World Bank, 55,000 hectares of more land would be irrigated in the first phase and later the facilities would be extended to 1,00,000 hectares through canal lining.

Though there was provision to allot 10 per cent of the total water from Hirakud to the industries not even one per cent water was being consumed by the industrial houses so far, Mr Samal added.

UNI