Khariar: After their repeated pleas fell on deaf ears, the villagers of Balipati under Khariar block of Nuapada district dug up a temporary canal to irrigate their farmland.
The move came after the government officials failed to expedite the work on the Sahakata small irrigation project.
Without waiting for help from district administration, the villagers mostly farmers came forward and constructed a 200 metre long canal.
Due to such combined effort, the villagers could bring water to their farm land which had almost dried up and developed cracks due to water scarcity.
“All the farmers of Balipati village joined hands to dig the canal as our crops were getting affected due to water scarcity. We are hopeful of a good yield now as the canal has been connected to our farmland,” said a farmer.
Because of the administration’s apathy towards the demand for the irrigation project, as many as 50 farmers decided to work together for the canal, stated another farmer.
Meanwhile, the administration has lauded the efforts made by farmers and assured to construct a concrete canal soon.
“I congratulate the farmers for digging the canal. If they support us, the administration will make it concrete, said Prabhakar Mohanty, executive engineer of the Khariar Small Irrigation division.