‘Hollow promise & decade-long wait’: Rayagada farmers dig canal through hill to irrigate parched farmlands

Farmers in Nuagaon village under Kashipur block in Rayagada district have done the impossible when the administration allegedly turned a deaf ear to their persistent problem. The residents have carved a canal through a hill to bring water to irrigate their farmlands and become an example for others to emulate. They have shown that nothing is impossible with determination, perseverance and resilience.

As per reports, the farmers of the village were facing a lot of hardships to irrigate their farmlands due to a lack of canal. Though they requested the administration several times to construct a canal in the area, it fell on deaf ears.

Eventually, the determined villagers decided not to depend upon anybody and carry out the work on their own. With their own endeavour, they have so far constructed a 500 m canal by carving the hill and they are now able to irrigate 60 acres of farmland in the area.

Now with proper irrigation facilities in place, they have carried out cultivation of many vegetables and crops in their farmlands.

“Despite several requests, the administration didn’t pay any heed to our ordeal. We were forced to take up the work on our own. After a lot of hard work we have managed to construct a canal by cutting the hill to irrigate our farmland,” said Dama Gouda, a farmer of the village.

“The political leaders only beg votes during the time of election and after that, they forget us. So, we villagers decided in a meeting to construct the canal on our own by carving the hill,” said Madhaba Gouda, another villager.

As per reports, the State Irrigation Department constructed a check dam near Baliguda with an estimated cost of Rs 30 lakh in 2012. However, the government failed to provide irrigation facilities to Nuagaon village even after 11 years. The villagers were mainly dependant on agriculture. They failed to carry out agricultural activities sans water and as a result suffered a lot to make their ends meet.

Though the villagers met many political leaders and requested the district administration about their ordeal several times, it fell on deaf ears. Then they decided to put up a herculean effort to construct the canal on their own by cutting the hills which was an arduous task.

Now the villagers have decided not to allow any political leaders in their village ahead of the 2024 General Election.

“The administration didn’t help us construct the canal for irrigation work in our area. We worked hard to construct the canal in a bid to earn our living. We will not allow any political leader entry into our village anymore to beg for votes,” said Rama Chandra Gouda, another villager.

Meanwhile, the officials of Minor Irrigation Department assured that necessary steps will be taken in this direction soon.

“I have recently joined. After field verification, I will send the necessary proposal to the higher authorities and accordingly, steps will be taken in this direction,” said Basant Soren, Engineer of Rayagada Minor Irrigation Department.