Eight major irrigation projects being executed in Orissa are facing total cost escalation due to time overrun.

These projects are facing cost escalation to the tune of Rs 8,251.57 crore. One of these projects is Subarnarekha irrigation project suffering from excessive delay. The project that was sanctioned in 1996-97 and was scheduled for completion by 2000-01, is yet to be commissioned. The timeline for completion of this irrigation project has been revised to 2013-14. The project cost has shot up from the original Rs 790.32 crore to a massive Rs 4,049.93 crore. Under this project, a dam will be erected at Chandil, near Jamshedpur and a barrage construction was to be taken up at Galudih to supply water to Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal using the canals. Under the project, water will be shared by the Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal in the ratio of 71 per cent, 27 per cent and two per cent respectively.

This apart, Rengali Right Bank Canal project is another project delayed by 13 years. The project was sanctioned in 1996-97 at a cost of Rs 738.27 crore, with completion slated for 2000-01. Now, the implementation schedule has been revised to 2013-14 with the investment going up to Rs 1,290.93 crore. Other projects with their revised cost (in brackets) include Upper Indravati (Rs 564.77 crore), Rengali Left Bank Canal project (Rs 1,074.02 crore), Lower Indra (Rs 1,182.23 crore), Lower Suktel (Rs 1041.81 crore), Integrated Ananadapur Barrage project (Rs 1,547.15 crore) and Kanupur irrigation project (Rs 1,067.51 crore).