Pending since 1990, the construction work for Icha Dam under the Subarnarekha Multi Purpose project will finally begin. The State Cabinet on Thursday cleared the way to starting the construction of the dam, the height of which will now be reduced from 225 metres to 213 metres.
Addressing mediapersons on Thursday, Cabinet Secretary SKG Rahate said, “As the land acquisition for 213 metres has been done, the Cabinet has decided that the dam would be constructed till the given height. Members from 377 families in this area have been given jobs and the rehabilitation site for the displaced has been identified.”
An officer from the water resources department informed that the construction of Icha dam began in 1990 but was shut down soon as it could not get forest clearance back then. The forest clearance was given in 2011 and the project was to be funded under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP).
Construction of Icha dam is one of the four components of Subernarekha Multipurpose project having the total budget of Rs 6,600 crore. The other components were construction of Chandil Dam, Kharkai Barrage and Galudih Barrage. While the construction for Chandil Dam and Galudih Barrage is completed, Kharkai barrage is also on verge of completion with 95 per cent work being done.
The Cabinet also gave approval for signing the MoU with Airport Authority of India (AAI) regarding construction of airport at Dhalbhumgarh in East Singhhum. The airport will be constructed on 240 acres of land, which will be provided by the State Government to the AAI. The Bhumi Pujan for the project will be done by Chief Minister Raghubar Das on January 24.
Transport Secretary Praveen Toppo said, “The Civil Aviation Ministry has a policy wherein construction and development of new airports has to be done by AAI in partnership with the state government. Under this joint venture, AAI would have 51 per cent stake while State Government would have 49 per cent stake.”
The capital expenditure of the project, which would be Rs 100 crore would be borne by AAI while the operational expenditure has to be borne by the State for the first 10 years. “After 10 years, the expenses will be met by the revenue generation at the airport. The length of the runway would be 1745 metres X 30 metres and in first phase 72 seater flights would be taking off from the airport,” Toppo said.
A total of nine proposals were approved by the cabinet on Thursday. The decision to pay Rs 150 per quintal on the purchase of crop in addition to the minimum support cost was also taken by the Council of Ministers.
The Cabinet approved the Scheduled Caste State Commission Bill, thus clearing the past of State SC Commission which will include chairperson, deputy chairperson and three members.
The amendment in Jharkhand Housing Board Act, 2000 was also approved by the cabinet following which the the housing board can now take administrative decisions in projects worth up to Rs 10 crore as opposed to the previous cap of Rs 2 crore.
The Cabinet also approved the provision of sublease in lease endowment of Government lands.
Besides, the Cabinet decided to terminate the services of Yamni Kant, former circle officer of Kanke and at the same time regularise the service of daily wage earner of road construction department’s Chaibasa division, Kailash Prasad Yadav.
