Bhubaneswar: Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro today directed the water resources department to restore all defunct Lift Irrigation Points (LIPs) in all the 10 districts having scanty rainfall.

He pressed the officials to implement the work within seven days.

Patro while reviewing the progress of restoration of defunct LIPs in the 2011 drought and flood affected areas of the state at the State Secretariat here, directed the department to ensure that the areas now where the threat of drought is looming large should not feel shortage of water this time.

The districts having shortage of rainfall include Balasore, Keonjhar, Kendrapada, Rayagada, Deogarh, Bhadrak, Khurda, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj and Jagatsinghpur.

Revenue sources reveal while eight blocks are as on Tuesday facing shortage of rainfall more than 59 per cent than normal rainfall, 32 blocks are having less rainfall about 39-59 per cent.
Similarly, 67 blocks confront inadequate rainfall from 19 to 39 per cent. During June and July these 107 blocks are having less than normal rainfall.

If these areas do not receive adequate rain in coming days, the possibility of rain may not be avoided.

Last year, 136 blocks, 34 lrban local bodies, 14,257 villages and wards coming under 2130 gram panchayats of 21 districts were hit by the drought.

To mitigate water crisis, state relief fund has assisted revival of defunct LIPs of these areas and entrusted the work to water resources department.

The review revealed that Rs 88.38 crore was given to Water Resources department for restoration of 5959 LIPs. But the department instead of carrying out the job on war footing has failed to complete all projects.

So far it has completed revival of 5223 projects with an expenditure of Rs 49 crore 29 lakh.

Patro directed the department to expedite the remaining works and take up additional restoration of defunct LIPs of 10 districts having scanty rainfall so far.

Among others, principal secretary tevenue Taradutt, principal secretary water resources Suresh Mohapatra, Special Relief Commissioner P K Mohapatra and MD OLIC attended the review meeting.