Uchangi dam needs a rethink

KOLHAPUR, Jan 21: The Maharashtra Rajya Dharan-Prakalpagrasta Shetkari Parishad, an organisation of project-affected families, after subm...

KOLHAPUR, Jan 21: The Maharashtra Rajya Dharan-Prakalpagrasta Shetkari Parishad, an organisation of project-affected families, after submitting an alternative plan to the Uchangi irrigation project, has now appealed to the State Government not to take any policy decision regarding construction of the Uchangi dam without discussing the alternative plan.

Addressing a press conference at Shramik Bhavan, Jeevanrao Savant and Dhanaji Gurav of the Parishad said the alternative plan has been prepared by K.R. Datye, an irrigation expert and former member of the Central Water Commission.

Referring to a meeting between the Parishad and the then district collector Manukumar Srivastava held on December 4, 1997, Savant and Gurav said the Parishad had agreed to allow the irrigation officials to carry out a survey of the dam, while the district collector and other officials had agreed that the Parishad will submit an alternative plan prepared by an irrigation expert.

8220;It was also decided to finalise the decision after holding discussions over the alternative plan submitted by the Parishad. Accordingly the Parishad has submitted its plan on December 30, 1998,8221; they said.

And yet, they said, a deputy engineer of the irrigation department along with four other persons, threatened the farmers at Chafavade village that nothing could prevent the government8217;s decision to construct the Uchangi dam. About 250 hectares of land belonging to farmers from Uchangi, Chafavade, Jevoor and Chitale will submerge in water, if the dam is constructed.

However, if our plan is implemented, not a single farmer will be deprived of his land, they added. According to government estimates, Rs 16 crore will be incurred for the construction of the dam at Uchangi, while its benefit area will be spread over 1,800 hectares of land. The Parishad, however, has objected to the State Government plan, stating it will displace farmers from four villages.