Chhattisgarh Water Resource Minster Brijmohan Agrawal raised objection over Polavaram project while addressing the three-day Workshop of State Water Resources Ministers titled ‘Jal Manthan’ held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on Friday.
Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti, Minister of State professor Sanwar lal Jat along with Water Resources ministers of different States was also present in the workshop.
Minister Brijmohan Agrawal while outlining the objections raised by Chhattisgarh government over the proposed Polavaram irrigation project on Godavari River said “sanctioning of this project has violated the terms of Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal. This project has proposed submergence area in Konta region of Chhattisgarh (including back water affect) at 177.44 feet which according the agreement of August 7, 1978 is 150 feet.”
For protecting area above 150 feet of submergence, safety embankments will have to be constructed on the banks of Shabri River away from the area of dam. This will also not compete the zero submergence term of Central Water Commission as for construction of these embankments Chhattisgarh will need 1300 acres of land and this will affect population on the bank of Shabri River, the Minister remarked.
Agrawal informed the Central government about different proposals sent by Chhattisgarh government for connecting rivers in the State and urged them to sanction the projects soon.
“Connecting Pairi and Mahanadi rivers can ensure water supply to Naya Raipur and Raipur city for coming several years”, he said. He also exhorted the Central government to assist Chhattisgarh in connecting two major dams mainly Gangrela and Tandula.
“In Chhattisgarh especially farmers in Bastar region are able to take only one crop due to lack of irrigation facilities,” the Minister said and drew attention of Union Minister Uma Bharti towards construction of two permanent control structures at the confluence of Indravati river and Jora Nullah on the border of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
He also demanded quick completion of the projects.Agrawal also said that the Chhattisgarh government had handed over its share of funds required in construction work to the government of Odisha.