The Central Water Commission (CWC) under Ministry of Water Resources has said it has two major projects in Chhattisgarh portion of Mahanadi basin at appraisal stage with it; out of which one project — Arpa Bhaisajhar Project is a 'Barrage Project', the Central Government was informed.
Notably, the CWC’s River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation carries out techno-economic appraisal of major and medium irrigation projects (Command Area more than 2000 hectare) which are planned on Inter-State river / river basins.
No specific study to assess the impact on available water in river Mahanadi in Odisha after construction of projects in upstream has been carried out, it informed.
Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Arpa Bhaisajhar Project was sent by Government of Chhattisgarh to Government of Odisha vide letter dated July 28, 2015.
The Government of Odisha sent its views to Government of Chhattisgarh vide their letter dated April 26, 2016. The DPR of Arpa Bhaisajhar Project is under appraisal in CWC, it stated.
An Inter-State Meeting was held on July 29 , 2016 under the Chairmanship of Officer on Special Duty, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation to consider the various water resources issues/projects in Mahanadi Basin.
Notably, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has recently stated that his government was committed towards ‘judicious distribution of Mahanadi river waters’. The Chief Minister said this in the context of a letter shot by Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the Mahanadi water issue.
Singh said that Chhattisgarh Government respects all the prescribed provisions made for use of water of inter-state rivers.
He said that the Chhattisgarh Government had been making limited use of Mahanadi river waters. Moreover, Singh said that six barrages on Mahanadi will be completed by 2017.
The barrages will irrigate an additional 3,146 hectare acreage and Chhattisgarh will get extra revenue of Rs 200 crore. Eighty thousand hectares of extra acreage will be brought under cultivation every year, he stated.
Notably, during the past two years, the Chhattisgarh Government has approved some major barrages to be built on the Mahanadi river to ensure adequate future water needs of the existing and new industrial units coming up in the State.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh Government in January this year had given administrative sanction of Rs 3.94 crore for development and security of Saradih Barrage on Mahanadi river in Janjgir-Champa district.
The Water Resources Department had already issued necessary orders for implementing the project.
A number of existing and proposed power plant sites are located in the district which as per Government plans, would be supplied water from the river.
There is also an agreement between Chhattisgarh Government and NTPC ltd over drawing of water for the upcoming lara Super Thermal Power Plant from Saradih barrage.
Notably, the work of Saradih bridge was completed in March this year.
The Chhattisgarh Government has also provided Rs 162.43 crore approval in April this year for construction of the Shivrinarayan Barrage over Mahanadi river in Navagarh Development Block of Janjgir-Champa district.
The barrage when ready will supply water to industrial units, officials had informed.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh government also provided administrative approval last year to the Basantpur Barrage project on Mahanadi river to fulfill the water requirements of industrial units in Janjgir-Champa district.
The barrage would be constructed on Mahanadi river in Bamhdih Development Block.
As per the details available, the Barrage would span 867.5 metres with gross water storage capacity of 53.93 million cubic metres.
As per a letter of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority , Chhattisgarh dated May 22, 2014 to Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, Bilaspur, water would be available for projects constructed downstream of the barrage.
The Basantpur barrage would be built at a cost of Rs 255.55 crore.
The Chhatisgarh Government in April this year also informed that the Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) being established at Sector 22 in Naya Raipur would receive abundant water supply from the Mahanadi river, officials stated.
Notably, the EMC has got final approval from the Central Government recently.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh had also recently stated that his Government is committed towards ‘judicious distribution of Mahanadi river waters.’