Madhya Pradesh is releasing drinking water and water for other proposes from Ban Sagar to Uttar Pradesh despite non-compliance of agreement by the latter. Water is being released from Ban Sagar to maintain minimum flow of water in Son River from time to time. The flow of water is not 60 cumec as per demand, since such quantity of water is required for irrigation. Such flow of water is not necessary for drinking and other purposes. At present, about 5 cubic metres per second water is being released in Son River due to which there is no crisis of drinking and other use water in low-lying areas of the command area.
Uttar Pradesh has demanded release of water in Son River for the first time. Earlier in 2013, it had demanded water for testing of canal, which was released. But, this demand ended automatically with breaking up of the canal. It is noteworthy that Ban Sagar is a joint project of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Madhya Pradesh has constructed a large dam on Son River near village Devlond in Shahdol district. Its utility water storage capacity is 543 cubic metres. Share of these States in the dam is 2:1:1, of which Madhya Pradesh’s share is — 2. A sum of Rs1697 crore has been spent on construction of the project. So far, Uttar Pradesh has paid Rs467 crore of its share while Rs64 crore is outstanding. In Ban Sagar agreement dated September 16, 1973, all partner States had agreed to share cost of the dam.
Uttar Pradesh has refused to share amount in maintenance head. The Ban Sagar Control Council and Central Water Commission was informed about it. For removing this impasse, the Engineer-in-Chief convened a meeting at Jabalpur on January 13, 2015 at with Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Engineer reiterated that Uttar Pradesh will give no amount for maintenance of Ban Sagar dam. Maintenance of Ban Sagar dam is costing Rs50 crore per annum. In this regard, Engineer-in-Chief of Madhya Pradesh had informed vide letters in December 2014 and January 2015 that Madhya Pradesh will not store water share of Uttar Pradesh in amount against maintenance is not received.
It is noteworthy that a meeting on this issue was held in May 2013 which was attended by officers of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It was decided at that meeting that the three states will share cost of operation and maintenance of the dam. Only after that, water share for concerning state will be stored in the dam for supply to it later.
Bihar Government is sharing expenditure on operation and maintenance of the dam. It is being provided water in that proportion. But despite agreement, Uttar Pradesh government neither partnered in operation and maintenance of the dam nor had any dialogue in this regard with Madhya Pradesh Government. Due to it water of Uttar Pradesh’s share is not being stored for last one year.
Madhya Pradesh Government had told Uttar Pradesh six months ago to pay amount of its share so that water can be stored for it in the dam. But the neighbouring Government did not show any interest in payment of amount.