MANGALDAI, April 24 - State Irrigation Minister Ranjit Dutta himself admitted that there is a negligence on the part of the department in proper implementation of the projects, for which crores of public fund have been spent every year so that paddy fields of poor farmers get necessary supply of irrigated water for better productivity.
He was talking to the media during his day-long visit to Darrang district on Saturday where he visited a couple of major irrigation projects under Mangaldai Irrigation division including Nanoi Flow Irrigation at village Chamatiapara under Sipajhar LAC and Chandra Mal Dutta Flow Irrigation scheme at village Bahjani under Kalaigaon LAC. In respond to the queries raised by mediapersons regarding alleged anomalies in project implementation and corruption on the part of a section of officials and contractors , the Minister said, �There is negligence on the part of our department in proper implementation of the schemes but people of that area must be aware of it, so that the corrupt officials and contractors can�t take any advantage.�
The minister also urged the farmers to come forward for multiple cropping and thus make the best use of the irrigation facilities.
Regarding the completion of work of the Rs 29-crore Nanoi Irrigation Project which has remained incomplete since 2009, the minister stressed on the need of preparation of fresh estimate and to include it in the Centrally-sponsored PMKSY scheme for its early completion. Accordingly, he directed the concerned officials present.
However, he set aside possibility of any inquiry into the alleged rampant corruption in implementation of the schemes during the tenure of the last Congress-led State government.
The Minister during his visit was accompanied by Binanda Kumar Saikia, MLA Sipajhar, Nilima Devi, president, Darrang district unit BJP and senior officials of the department, among others.
