The delay in starting a few irrigation projects in the state has put the Chhattisgarh government under the scanner for allegedly helping the industries in the state.
The opposition Congress party on Friday charged that the BJP government in Chhattisgarh was giving priority to the industries than the farmers when it came to give water from its resources. The issue came up during the Question Hour in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly.
The members sought the status of many projects including Mahanadi-Tandula link project and Hasdeo Minimata irrigation project. These projects were announced by the state government earlier. Even the proposals had been included in the annual plan of the state.
Chhattisgarh Minister for Water Resources Ramvichar Netam said that the survey work for the Mahanadi-Tandula link project was in progress while the work on Hasdeo Minimata project was near completion. The reply charged the opposition members who grilled the state government on the issue. “It is very unfortunate that the survey work for the project that will generateastill going on while the work on the project that will supply water to the industries is on near completion,” Leader of Opposition Ravindra Choubey said. From the Hasdeo project, water would be supplied to 49 power plants coming up in Janjgir district, he added. The Congress legislators said almost three years had passed after the government announced the Mahanadi-Tandula link canal project. This would enhance irrigation capacity in Durg district. “It is unfortunate that even in three years, government could not complete the survey work,” Choubey said.
The opposition members urged the minister to take up the projects that have farmers’ interest on prority. Netam assured that the state government would start the work on the project as soon as the survey work was completed.
