Work on Kanpur irrigation project resumes amid tight security

Keonjhar: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Thursday resumed work on Kanpur irrigation project at Basudevpur under Champua sub-division in Keonjhar district amid tight security.
The district administration has deployed 20 platoons of police force at the project site and imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in view of protests by the villagers last year.
Construction of the mega irrigation project was stalled in March 2016 following protests by people displaced by the project. They have been opposing the project demanding adequate compensation in accordance with the rehabilitation and resettlement policy and land against land. The villagers had also sought relocation of the project, citing displacement of thousands of tribals and submergence of around 15 villages.
The project over river Baitarinini near Basudevpur village was conceived 40 years ago and three chief ministers have laid its foundation on different occasions. Once functional, it will facilitate irrigation to nearly 30,000 hectare land spread over five blocks of the district, official sources said.