Balasore: A barrage near Bankatira in Remuna block over the Budhabalanga river is likely to see the light of day with the irrigation department close to completing the survey after obtaining approval from the Central Water Commission.

The project, worth an estimated Rs 320 crore, will be built on nearly 230 hectares, including 30 hectares of private land. Significantly, the patch doesn't involve either forest land or displacement of human settlement.

The department's Balasore division executive engineer Niranjan Mahalik said the project had obtained commission approval and added that it would built with funds from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) and the state government.

"The survey, as well as the canal to channelise water to agriculture fields for nearly 100km has been completed . However, the survey for record of right of private land is still in progress," said Mahalik. "The project, besides facilitating irrigation, will also help contain flood. There are further plans to tap the barrage water to supply drinkable water to Balasore town," he added.

"Hopefully, the project will take off in October after the tender process," he said.

The project envisages irrigating 6,100 hectares, including 5,000 hectares of Balasore Sadar block and 1,100 hectares of Basta block, mainly during kharif crop.

The Budhabalanga, after originating from the hill ranges of Similipal reserve forest in Jashipur block of Mayurbhanj district, travels about 110km east and finally meets the Bay of Bengal in Balasore, 20km downstream of the proposed project.

The project has been a long-standing demand of the district.