Jharigaon – The long-awaited Satyaghat Irrigation Project under Chacha Panchayat of Jharigaon Block, Nabarangpur district, has yet to begin due to administrative indifference, causing frustration among local farmers.
The previous government had sanctioned funds for the project, but the new government has not taken any steps to commence work, leading to allegations of neglect. As a result, the fate of the Satyaghat Irrigation Project remains uncertain, stuck within mere announcements rather than actual implementation.
Past Struggles for the Project
In 2002, under the leadership of Pradeep Majhi, then a member of the opposition party, a rally and protest meeting was organized to demand the construction of the Satyaghat project. Thousands of farmers from Gabaguda village walked 14 kilometers to Jharigaon bus stand to participate in the protest, pressuring the state government to take action.
Since then, the administration has conducted only two surveys regarding the project, but no actual construction has taken place. Pradeep Majhi, after being in the opposition, later joined the ruling BJD government in a key position, sparking local speculation that the project would finally be built.
Unfulfilled Promises and Political Changes
Before the last election, in March of the previous year, former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik virtually laid the project’s foundation stone and allocated funds. However, after the formation of the BJP government in Odisha, nearly 10 months later, the irrigation project remains stalled, with no signs of work beginning.
Locals accuse the administration of lacking commitment, which has led to growing resentment among farmers.
Impact of the Satyaghat Project
Jharigaon Block currently lacks irrigation facilities. If completed, the Satyaghat Irrigation Project could provide water to over 600 hectares of farmland across several panchayats, including:
Chacha
Palia
Banuaguda
Phupugaon
Gurusinga
Chakalapadar
Ichhapur
Katrichapar
Belgaon
Chitabeda
Jharigaon Panchayat
More than a hundred farmers in the region could benefit, improving their livelihoods by enabling double-cropping and increased earnings.
However, the big question remains—when will the Satyaghat Irrigation Project finally be completed, and when will local farmers see its benefits? Only time will tell.