One more river to be linked with Narmada to save Malwa region from turning desert
Bhopal: A meeting of Narmada Control Board chaired by Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan here today sanctioned Rs. 2143 crore Narmada-Malwa-Gambhir Link Project. The project will provide irrigation facility in 158 villages in 50 thousand hectare in Indore and Ujjain districts. Indore’s Yashwant Sagar can also be filled up repeatedly through this project. The project will not need any re-settlement and rehabilitation. The meeting also gave administrative sanction of Rs. 56 crore 50 lakh for Dabri lift irrigation project and Rs. 97 crore 21 lakh for Sihara lift irrigation scheme.
Public Works Minister Shri Sartaj Singh, Finance Minister Shri Jayant Malaiya, Forest Minister Dr. Gaurishankar Shejwar, Agriculture Minister Shri Gaurishankar Bisen, Energy Minister Shri Rajendra Shukla, Revenue Minister Shri Rampal Singh, Minister of State for Narmada Valley Development Shri Lal Singh Arya and Chief Secretary Shri Anthony de Sa were present on the occasion.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that linking rivers of Malwa region with Narmada is the best option for supply of water in the region. The Chief Minister said that he has met the Prime Minister and urged him to declare Narmada-Malwa Link Project as a National Project. The Chief Minister said that Narmada-Malwa Link Project is also important for utilising Madhya Pradesh’s share in Narmada water before year 2024. Through these projects, water will be available for irrigation, industries and drinking in Malwa region.
Narmada-Malwa-Gambhir Link Project: This project has been proposed in view of declining groundwater level and shortage of drinking water in Malwa region. Neither a dam will be constructed under the project nor any family re-settled. The project will irrigated 158 villages 50 thousand hectare land in Indore and Ujjain districts. From the project costing Rs. 2143 crore 46 lakh, 12.5 cusecs of water will be used for irrigation, 1.5 cusecs for drinking water and 1 cusec water will be used by industries. Under the project, Narmada water will be uplifted to a height of 416 metres.
Dabri irrigation project: Under the project, water will be uplifted from Jobat dam. The project will irrigate 3000 hectares in 8 villages each in Alirajpur and Dhar districts. The project will cost Rs. 56 crore 50 lakh.
Sihada irrigation project: The Sihada irrigation project costing Rs. 97 crore 20 lakh will irrigate 5 thousand 750 hectares in 17 villages of Khandwa district. Under the project, water from Indira Sagar will be uplifted.
It is noteworthy that before this project, Narmada-Kshipra Link Project has been successfully implemented in the state, which will make available water to villages and cities apart from irrigation and crores of devotees will have the benefit of holy dip in the water of two holy rivers during Simhastha.
The meeting sanctioned amendment proposal regarding powers of Narmada Valley Development Department to sanction tenders. Additional Chief Secretary Shri Ajay Nath, Principal Secretary Narmada Valley Development Shri Rajneesh Vaish, Principal Secretary Public Works Department Shri K.K. Singh and Principal Secretary Commerce & Industries Shri Mohammad Sulaiman were also present on the occasion.
