Nuapada Collector’s Intervention Brings Major Administrative Change 9 Major Lift Irrigation Projects Shifted from Titlagarh to Khariar Division

Nuapada, September 23: In a significant administrative development aimed at strengthening monitoring and inter-departmental coordination of major lift irrigation projects in Nuapada district, nine projects previously under the Titlagarh Mega Lift Project Division have been brought under the Khariar Mega Lift Project Division following the intervention of Nuapada Collector Madhusudan Dash. The move is expected to improve field-level supervision, project management and coordination between the district administration and the Water Resources Department. Collector Madhusudan Dash had written to the Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department on August 13, highlighting difficulties in monitoring and administrative coordination of the projects. He pointed out that the extensive jurisdiction of the Titlagarh Division was creating difficulties in attending meetings related to Nuapada, conducting project inspections, coordinating with the district administration and addressing public grievances. The Collector also requested that the Nuapada areas under the Titlagarh Division be brought under the Khariar Mega Lift Project Division, which is already functioning in the district and maintains regular coordination with the district administration. Subsequently, the Chief Engineer of the Mega Lift Projects, Bhubaneswar, carried out a reallocation of the operation and maintenance (O&M) responsibilities of completed mega lift irrigation projects. The reorganisation was reportedly made considering district boundaries and the geographical proximity of the concerned divisions. Under the new arrangement, the administrative responsibility for nine projects in Nuapada district under Cluster-13 has been assigned to the Executive Engineer of the Khariar Division. Together, these nine projects cover an irrigation area of 7,277.28 hectares. The administrative reorganisation is expected to make field-level inspection, operation and maintenance of the projects more convenient while further strengthening coordination between the district administration and the Water Resources Department. It is also expected to facilitate quicker resolution of irrigation-related grievances and ensure uninterrupted management of the projects. In view of the upcoming Kharif season, emphasis has also been placed on ensuring uninterrupted operation and maintenance of all the projects and smooth implementation of the new administrative arrangement.