FOR Vidarbha region, as far as Wainganga-Nalganga link project is concerned, ‘W’ in Wainganga also stands for ‘wait’ and ‘N’ in Nalganga stands for ‘neglect’. For, the people of Vidarbha, especially the farmers, are waiting for the project work to begin on ground. And, the activists are lamenting State Government’s neglect towards the project execution. The project is also known as Gosikhurd-Purna Tapi link project. The overall cost of the project is estimated to be a whopping Rs 53,751.98 crore. This cost includes estimates for head works, canal and conveyance system, and command area development.

 

The annual cost of the project is Rs 6,774.26 crore. Interestingly, the benefit Vidarbha region is expected to accrue every year is estimated to be Rs 11,799.58 crore. The head of benefit includes various aspects including agricultural produce valued at Rs 2,133.81 crore, domestic water supply valued at Rs 1.12 crore, industrial water supply valued at Rs 9,528 crore, and pisiculture, water charges, canal plantation etc. The project will provide annual irrigation to 3,71,277 hectares of area in drought-prone areas of Vidarbha through enroute storages. The gross command area is 4,64,102 hectares. Wainganga-Nalganga link project will benefit the districts of Nagpur and Wardha in East Vidarbha (Nagpur Division), and Amravati, Yavatmal, Akola, and Buldana in West Vidarbha (Amravati Division). As far as submergence is concerned, the project will affect 109 villages.

 

However, of these, only 26 will be affected fully and 83 will be affected partially. As per the project report, the existing Gosikhurd, Lower Wardha, Katepurna, and Nalganga projects are proposed to be utilised as head works of the link project. As such, no new dam is proposed for head works. However, nothing has been done on ground since 2018 when National Water Development Agency (NWDA) submitted detailed project report (DPR) to State Government. When contacted R R Hedaoo, Assistant Engineer, NWDA, Nagpur, told ‘The Hitavada’ that Water Resources Department (WRD) had become somewhat active since June 2020. “They are taking feedback from NWDA. Two-three on-line meetings have been held,” he said. According to Hedaoo, WRD has suggested NWDA to modify the open canal component in the DPR. WRD wants open canal to be modified into piped distribution network to avoid land acquisition issues.

 

However, NWDA found that piped distribution network might be costlier than the original proposal. Still, NWDA is working to do a sample assessment. Besides, NWDA is taking stock of water availability from Gosikhurd. It is also carrying out an assessment of water requirement for West Vidarbha districts. Though the project may serve as a lifeline for Vidarbha region, no work has begun on ground. Only investigation, survey, consultancy job has been done to prepare DPR. Sources said that NWDA is carrying out a desktop study for 50-km extension of the project up to Pentakli. But, since no other work is with NWDA at present, uncertainty looms large over NWDA office in Nagpur. 

 

‘Delay amounts to violation of human rights’ THE delay in commencement of project work on ground has irked the activists from Vidarbha. They alleged that it was affecting Vidarbha farmers’ right to life and livelihood, which was a crucial part of human rights. “State Government is not according due importance to this crucial project,” alleged Adv Avinash Kale, Convener of Loknayak Bapuji Aney Smarak Samiti. “As world celebrates Human Rights Day on Thursday, people of Vidarbha continue to wait for the project that may add value to their human rights,” he said. Adv Kale said that Wainganga-Nalganga Link Project would benefit people of Vidarbha agriculturally, industrially, and socially. Once the project is completed, it is expected to help Vidarbha farmers in production of 59,16,265 quintals of agricultural produce annually. Besides, it will result in securing domestic water supply needs to the extent of 32 MM3. The industrial water supply of 397 MM3 will also be secured from the project. There are benefits through fishing, collection of water charges as irrigation service fee, and benefits to be accrued through canal plantation. Further, a plan of 1,184 MW solar power generation is envisaged. “The project is beneficial to Vidarbha on multiple counts. The only need is for the State Government to start work of the project on ground,” he demanded.