Zudpi Jungle land affecting completion of irrigation projects in Vidarbha
09-03-14 Only 8.12% of forest land required for irrigation projects is Zudpi Jungle By Kartik Lokhande The much-trumpeted ‘decision’ on Zudpi Jungle fails to provide any relief as far as irrigation projects in rainfed region of Vidarbha are concerned. Of a total forest land required for irrigation projects (excluding Gosikhurd and those under Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation) in Nagpur Division, only 8.12 per cent is ‘classified’ as ‘Zudpi Jungle’. Thus, unless there is dedicated effort to clear total forest land required for these projects, rainfed region of Vidarbha will continue to suffer for protection of forest. The irrigation projects in Vidarbha are under Water Resources Department (WRD) circles, Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC), and Gosikhurd national irrigation project. As soon as the ‘decision’ regarding simplification of procedure for ‘diversion’ of Zudpi Jungle was announced by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan with much fanf...