Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra on Monday directed the state Works and Rural Development departments to complete around 300 bridges-cum-check dams during the current financial year.
Mahapatra issued the order at a high-level meeting held via video-conferencing. According to an official release, an estimated Rs 413.81 crore would be spent in the construction of these bridges.
“Bridges-cum-check dams, while raising the surface water level in riverbeds, will significantly help in groundwater recharge and rejuvenation of eco-system,” Mahapatra said.
“It’s a cost-effective technology having multiple micro-level outcomes. The water conserved through this method could be utilised for irrigation on both sides of the river for growing vegetables and cash crops. The water could also be used for drinking water projects,” he added.
They would also help in creating a green environment and checking soil erosion, he said.
Around 45 such structures have been completed in the state in about three months. Of these, 30 were completed by the Works Department and 14 by the Rural Development Department.
Besides, 480 bridges have been identified where construction of check dams is feasible.
The Chief Secretary also directed the departments of water resources and horticulture to motivate and advise farmers to have land on both sides of the river/creek (where such constructions were completed) for raising vegetables and cash crops.
Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary (Rural Development) Pradeep Kumar Jena, Additional Chief Secretary (Water Resources) Anu Garg, Principal Secretary (Works) Vir Vikram Yadav, Principal Secretary (Finance) Vishal Kumar Dev along with senior officers and engineers of the departments concerned participated in the meeting.
