The Chhattisgarh Government is awaiting environmental clearance for construction of a key Barrage on Hasdeo River in Janjgir Champa district, official sources informed.
The ‘Kudari Barrage’ project as it is known envisages construction of Barrage across the river Hasdeo-- a tributary of river Mahanadi in the main basin of river Hasdeo.
The project is to provide water for thermal power plants, recharging groundwater, drinking water and for lift irrigation purposes.
The purpose of the project is to storage of 15.60 Mcum of water supply for industrial use and domestic water supply in summer period and to facilitate neighbouring villages for Kharif crop by lift irrigation.
The Kudari Barrage Project is a medium scheme for storage of water and there will be no significant impact on natural flow of river. In monsoon season all the gates will remain open, therefore probability of deposition of sand / silt is least, officials informed.
The Kudari Barrage is proposed to supply water to power plants. There is no command area of this project. The total catchment area of barrage site (near village Kudari) is 7795 sqkms.
Construction of Barrage with central gated spillway across Hasdeo River near village Kudari barrage scheme is administratively approved by Government of Chhattisgarh.
This scheme will prove to be a boon to the area. This barrage will accommodate a cause way for connecting villages on either side of bank. Also due to water supply for industrial use, revenue recovery of Rs 7.608 crores per year is expected, sources informed.
Notably, Hasdeo river originates from southern part of Hasdeo Mountain. Eastern part is divided from tributaries of river Rihand (North flowing) and Mand basin of Raigarh district. The Western Part is divided from the tributaries of Arpa river of Bilaspur district (south flowing), southern boundary creates by tributary of Sheonath river and Mahanadi river itself.
The upper reaches of Hasdeo river covers Manendragarh, Sonhat, Baikunthpur and Chirmiri area in Korea district and remaining central and lower part of the river covers Katgora, Korba and Champa district.
Hasdeo river runs through the plain area which is full of agriculture land and meets the Mahanadi river at Mouhadih village of Janjgir-Champa district.