Irrigation project revived

The project cost which was estimated to be Rs 23.47 crore when it was planned in 1970’s, has now escalated to over Rs 300 crore. The dam to be constructed in Bhandara district on the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh border, is designed to provide irrigation facilities to over 23,000 hectare land in Bhandara.

The foundation stone for the project was laid in 1978 in the presence of Sharad Pawar, who was the Chief Minister of Progressive Democratic Front Government in Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Virendra Kumar Saklecha.

After the initial enthusiasm waned, the project work continued at a snails pace for over a decade because of the delay in securing clearance under the Forest Conservation Act.

The work could not gain momentum even after obtaining the forest clearance, and the states spending Rs 25.58 crore from their budgets.Talking informally to a group of journalists before leaving for Mumbai, Shivankar said the state government is willing to make additional contribution over and above its share to ensure early completion of the project.

The state government has already spent Rs 18.55 crores against its share of Rs 14.93 crore. He informed that Madhya Pradesh has agreed to make sufficient provision in the next five years for construction of the spillway.MP government has also decided to accord clearance to state government’s proposal to construct three KT weirs across Bagh river in Bhandara district. A KT weir will be constructed each at Khedepar in Salekasa, Ghat-Temni in Gondia, and Mundipar in Amgaon tehsils.

Shivankar, who also holds the Planning portfolio, has decided to hold region-wise meetings of legislators to elicit their views on the annual plan for 1998-99. Meetings will also be held with the representatives of chambers of commerce and industries. He said there is no truth in the reports that the district plans for the current and next financial year were cropped because of resource constraints.