Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi today inaugurated the ambitious Durgawati reservoir, the dream project of former Deputy Prime Minister Jagjivan Ram, at Badalgarh in Rohtas district.
The foundation of the reservoir spread in an area of 627 sq km was laid by Babu Jagjivan Ram on June 4, 1976, an official statement said here.
Manjhi said that many challenges came in during nearly four decades in completion of the project.
"Due to firm commitment of former chief minister Nitish Kumar, the project has seen the light of the day," he said.
He said the reservoir could irrigate 39,620 hectares of land in different areas of Kaimur and Rohtas districts.
If water was left after meeting irrigation demand of farmers of the two districts then only it would be given to other districts, he said.
Water Resources Minister Vijay Chaudhary also gave credit to Nitish Kumar for completion of the project.
He said the work of irrigation process in the project would be completed soon.
