The ambitious Gangadhar Meher lift canal system, designed to provide assured Irrigation to around 25,600 hectares of drought-hit areas surrounding Bijepur inBargarhdistrict, will be operational by September 2023, chief ministerNaveen Patnaiksaid on Saturday while launching the distribution of smart Health cards under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY).
Bargarh is the sacred land of goddess Lakshmi. It is the rice bowl of Odisha. Like farmers, weavers of the district have gifted the famous Sambalpur sari to the world.
The irrigation project was announced by the chief minister in October 2017, ahead of the Bijepur by-election. Once operational, it will source water from the Hirakud dam through Bargarh main canal and provide irrigation to the drought-hit areas like Bijepur, Sohela and Barpali.
Regarding the BSKY smart card, the chief minister said around 3.64 lakh families will receive them. The card will help people receive hassle-free cashless treatment in government hospitals and 200 private empanelled hospitals in and outside the state.