)
Larsen and Turbo Ltd (L&T) has been awarded Rs 646.56 crore contract for equipment supply and construction of 28 mega lift irrigation projects in Tel River basin by the water resources department of Odisha government.
The Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for the Tel River basin is meant to provide irrigation facility in 35,400 ha farm fields of drought prone districts of Kalahandi, Bolangir, Subarnapur and Boudh districts.
Each lift irrigation scheme will be designed to cover 500 to 2,000 ha area close to rivers and existing reservoirs.
The contract was awarded to L&T for two clusters, out of five clusters selected for implementation in the first phase. The government has plans to cover 15 clusters with an estimated cost of Rs 3,000 crore for 174 lift irrigation projects.
“Looking at the experience and expertise of L&T in this field, we are confident that the projects will be completed on time and farmers will reap the benefit,” said a state government release.
These projects will be completed within 30 months from the date of signing of agreement. After completion of the projects, L&T will be in charge of operation and maintenance for a period of five years, as per the agreement.
In next two months, the government will float tenders for remaining three clusters of first phase with a command area of 50,000 ha.
The areas will cover the districts of Malkanagiri, Koraput, Nawrangpur, Kalahandi. Sambalpur, Sundergarh. Deogath and Angul in Indravati, Kolab river basin area and around Hirakud and Rengali reservoirs.
