Irrigation potential of 1,92,134 Ha in Vid caught in forest tangle

 

* Of 22 projects with this much of irrigation potential, three have been omitted from the list citing ‘technical reasons’
* Permission lapses for Ranbodi feeder canal in Nagpur district
By Kartik Lokhande 
At least 33 irrigation projects in rainfed region of Vidarbha are affected by forest issues. In fact, of these projects with combined irrigation potential of 4,56,185 hectares, Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) has been able to complete only four projects with combined irrigation potential of 8,011 hectares only so far.
Even if one considers the latest claims of VIDC that work on seven projects with total irrigation potential of 2,56,040 hectares is in progress, it still leaves irrigation potential of 1,92,134 hectares caught in the tangle of issues pertaining to diversion of forest land. “In short, only 1.70 per cent of targeted irrigation potential has been created in 8-10 years. This clearly shows callous and casual attitude of Maharashtra Government towards the people of Vidarbha in all these years,” said Adv Avinash Kale, Convener, Lok Nayak Bapuji Aney Smarak Samiti.
Adv Kale, who dug the information out from VIDC, has written a letter in this regard to the Governor of Maharashtra. He told ‘The Hitavada’ that he had sought information about 33 irrigation projects with VIDC caught in the tangle of forest and environmental clearance issues. In response, VIDC apprised him on April 1, 2015, that these 33 projects required only 5,373.23 hectares of forest area to create combined irrigation potential of 4,56,185 hectares.
Of these projects, four with irrigation potential of 8,011 hectares have been completed. These four projects are namely Bhiwapur in Amravati district with irrigation potential of 360 hectares, Goki in Yavatmal district with irrigation potential of 7,080 hectares, Kasola in Washim district with potential to irrigate 260 hectares, and Lodhisitapar lift irrigation scheme with potential to irrigate 311 hectares.
Seven other projects namely Lower Painganga in Yavatmal district, Karajkhed lift irrigation scheme in Bhandara district, Pindkepar in Gondia, Katepurna barrage in Akola, Wasni (Bujruk) in Amravati, Dindora barrage in Chandrapur, and Kanhan Nadi (Kochi barrage) in Nagpur district, have got final approval for diversion of forest land required. As per the communication of VIDC received by Adv Kale, the construction work on these projects is in progress. These seven projects together required forest area of 1,281.13 hectares, to pave way for creating combined irrigation potential of 2,56,040 hectares. Of these, only Lower Painganga project has potential to irrigate 2,27,271 hectares. These seven projects had got ‘in-principle’ approval for diversion of forest land between 2007 and 2010.
Sadly, remaining 22 projects with combined irrigation potential of 1,92,134 hectares are still caught in forest tangle. And, VIDC has submitted a proposal to the Government to ‘omit’ three projects citing ‘technical reasons’. These three projects include Saleheti (irrigation potential of 430 hectares) and Sonkund (792 hectares) in Bhandara district, Salod (38 hectares) in Amravati district. Further, due to callous approach, ‘in principle’ approval to Ranbodi feeder canal in Nagpur district has lapsed, as in more than five years since the ‘in principle’ approval was received, nothing could move on ground.
For remaining projects, VIDC has paid to Forest Department the amount of ‘Net Present Value’ (NPV) running into crores of rupees for diversion of forest land. For instance, for six projects namely Human (Chandrapur), Ajansara barrage (Wardha), Goki (Yavatmal), Vanjari Nala (Gondia), Parwa Pohra (Washim), and Wardha barrage (Yavatmal), VIDC has deposited with Forest Department an amount of Rs 194.77 crore as against NPV. Nnow, the proposals for diversion of forest land for these six projects are ‘under process’ for final approval.
“Five projects namely Chorkhamara in Nagpur district; Jambhli, Suparsal, Dhamditola, and Pindkepar projects in Gondia district are in local sector. VIDC has informed me that the action regarding these projects is expected from Water Resources Department,” Adv Kale told ‘The Hitavada’. VIDC data reveals that crores of rupees have been spent on some of the irrigation projects without even obtaining necessary final approval for diversion of forest land, alleged Adv Kale.
“This is very serious and shocking matter. It is a cause of great concern for people of Vidarbha. Hence, I have appealed to the Governor to take cognisance of this and take positive steps to provide relief to people of rainfed region of Vidarbha,” he added. As Vidarbha region has been deprived of irrigation development over the years due to ‘inertness and inaction on part of Maharashtra Government’, Adv Kale said, people have been raising the demand for statehood to the region. 

(April 12, 2015)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chanda boy Dr Vipin Itankar is UPSC topper in State

Image
12-06-14 * Efficiency and effectiveness are the keywords for the topper * Nagpur lads Aawesh Titarmare, Arpit Gudadhe, and Ankur Meshram also bring laurels to the region in UPSC examination results By Kartik Lokhande  “I am blessed. Vipin is extremely hard-working, dedicated and a confident guy I have ever met in my life. He was always at top since college days. I was confident that he would be in top ten in the UPSC examination as well.” (Centre) Dr Vipin Itankar, who secured 14th rank nationally and topped Maharashtra in UPSC Civil Services Examination-2013 results, celebrating with his family members in Chandigarh on Thursday. This is how Dr Shalini, wife of Dr Vipin Vithoba Itankar, reacted on learning that Vipin had emerged as the Maharashtra topper in Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’ over telephone from Chandigarh, where Vipin and Shalini work in Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32, both exp...
Read more

Hinganghat: Here rests the great surveyor of India...

Image
  By Kartik Lokhande  Often, the work of explorers lives on but they get buried in the history. This is exactly what has happened in case of Lt Col William Lambton. The man credited with initiating one of the greatest scientific activities in the world -- The Great Trigonometrical Survey of India -- lays buried at a place now known as ‘Kala Gota’ amid a crowded locality behind Bus Stand in the town of Hinganghat in Wardha district. Sadly, the memorial of this great surveyor, whose work led to measuring the highest point on Earth 50 years later, has become a victim of neglect. And, surprisingly, not many know about it and the great significance of Hinganghat in the landmark survey.  Lambton Memorial, known locally as 'Kala Gota' in Hinganghat. (Pic: Kartik Lokhande) Lt Col William Lambton The benchmark stone of Great Trigonometrical Survey, in the courtyard of a house behind Bus Stand in Hinganghat. (Pic by Kartik Lokhande) Lt Col Will...
Read more

Eknath Ranade, the man with ‘Rock’ solid determination

* November 2015 marks the culmination of birth centenary celebrations of Eknath Ranade, a son of Vidarbha who made it the cause of his life to realise the dream of Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari By Kartik Lokhande  It was 1962, a year that had stirred the atmosphere in the country owing to several factors including a war with China. In January 1963, India was to celebrate the birth centenary of Swami Vivekananda. In down south, in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, tension was in the air over Swami Vivekananda’s memorial. There were attempts by some to claim the Rock off the shores of Tamil Nadu where Vivekananda meditated. A firm leadership is required to navigate through little storms in the journey towards realisation of a goal. Eknath Ranade, a man born in village Timtala in Amravati district of Vidarbha region in Maharashtra, was destined to be that firm leader as far as Swami Vivekananda’s memorial at Kanyakumari. Born on November 19, 1914, Eknath Ranade was the ...
Read more