Rourkela: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday inaugurated the Rukura Medium Irrigation Project, popularly known as the Rukura dam, near Bonai, apart from launching 30 other projects.

The Rukura project, built at a cost of Rs 296 crore, is constructed over the Rukura nullah and surrounded by high hills. The dam receives the rainwater.

The project's executive engineer Biswajeet Panigrahi said: "The reservoir is built over 666 hectares. The height of the dam is 26 metres. Its upper width is 6 metres, while the dam's length is 1,133 metres. The reservoir's maximum flood discharging capacity is 1,442.50 cusecs. It has only one main canal, and its length is over 10.872km."

For the project, over 171.77 hectares of government land, along with 343.24 hectares of forest land, and 152.63 hectares of private land were acquired.

"During the rabi season, it will irrigate 2,185 hectares, while during the kharif season, the dam will irrigate 5,463 hectares. As of now, since the area has a good rainfall - 1,708mm - the water storage will be good," said Panigrahi.

After inaugurating the project, Naveen flew to Bonai and addressed a meeting at the Raja Dharani Dhara High School ground. He said: "My government was and will always remain committed to the development of the state and also to its people. The projects which were inaugurated, and those for which foundation stones were laid, will certainly go a long way in developing Bonai and its nearby areas."

Naveen inaugurated and laid foundations stones for 31 projects. These include seven kalyan mandaps and information centres at a cost of Rs 50 lakh. Foundation stones were laid for roads and culverts. The cost of all the projects will be over Rs 300 crore, and a large part of it will come from the district mineral fund.