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 fanfare last week, the officials of WRD circles, VIDC, and Gosikhurd project started finding out how many projects would actually get cleared with the said ‘decision’. However, once the information started coming in, they were disappointed to know that not a single project would be cleared completely from forest tangle.
As far as Nagpur Division is concerned, 27 projects (excluding those under VIDC) require forest clearance. These require 8,688.36 hectares of forest land. This includes 3,848.95 hectares of reserved forest, 2,978.49 hectares of protected forest, and only 705.77 hectares of Zudpi Jungle. Thus, Zudpi Jungle constitutes only 8.12 per cent of the total forest land required for these 27 projects. In effect, even if this much of Zudpi Jungle land is ‘freed’ actually through a committed political intervention, these projects will not get any relief till they get clearance for reserved and protected forest land. Most of these projects, sources said, are in Nagpur, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroli districts.
According to sources, some of these projects are quite old. These include Hooman major irrigation project in Chandrapur district that required over 1,925 hectares of forest land and Tultuli in Gadchiroli district that required 2,228 hectares of forest land. The forest proposal for Hooman project has been submitted for the final approval to the Central Government. But, Central Government has turned down the forest proposal for Tultuli project in Naxal-affected Gadchiroli district. Bhendala, Hattigota, Nimbala, and Bamangaon projects also have been denied forest clearance by Central Government.
Thus, if the Government really wants to give a boost to creation of irrigation potential in Vidarbha region, it needs to fast-track clearance to forest and environment proposals. Only ‘simplification of procedure’ for Zudpi Jungle ‘diversion’ will not serve any purpose. It requires time-bound scrutiny and clearance of proposals seeking not only Zudpi Jungle land but also the land under reserved and protected forests at least for irrigation projects for which administrative approvals were granted years ago.

Gosikhurd requires
Zudpi Jungle land
Gosikhurd national project required 2,654.388 hectares of forest land and proposal in this regard got cleared. The agency concerned also got possession of the said land. A revised proposal for 713.12 hectares more also has been approved and Gosikhurd project machinery has paid Rs 49.57 crore as Net Present Value (NPV). However, there are still certain components of Gosikhurd project that require forest clearance. These include Asolamendha project (to increase height). This particular project required 316.611 hectares of forest land including 1.783 hectares of Zudpi Jungle for distribution system. Thus, Zudpi Jungle required for Asolamendha project is only 0.56 per cent of total forest land required.
Similarly, in case of Gosikhurd right branch canal, 119.06 hectares of forest land is required for works after 50 km mark. The total length of Right Branch Canal (RBC) is 99 kms. The distribution system from canal requires the forest land. This comprises 53.30 hectares of reserved forest, 50.16 hectares of protected forest, and 15.60 hectares Zudpi Jungle. In this case also, Zudpi Jungle comprises only 13.10 per cent of total forest land required.

Kochi barrage project
caught in Zudpi tangle
Nagpur district alone has at least six projects under Command Area Development Authority (CADA). These include Salai Mokasa, Sagra, Ranbodi canal, Chichghat, Pench (Khindsi feeder canal), and Kochi barrage on river Kanhan.
Of these, Kochi barrage is important for Nagpur city also. It requires 51 hectares of forest land, of which 38.97 hectares is Zudpi Jungle and 12.03 hectares is protected forest. If the Government is really committed to resolving Zudpi Jungle tangle and provide relief, it must clear this 51 hectares so that water supply to Nagpur city is taken care of. At present, a proposal for final approval has been submitted to the Central Government.

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