Raipur
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai returned to Raipur from Delhi on Saturday after his second meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 13 days. The discussions primarily focused on the development of Bastar. The Chief Minister carried a file detailing ongoing anti-Naxal operations in the region and proposals for the long-pending Bodhghat project. He also presented a unique bell metal ‘Nandi’ idol from Bastar to the Prime Minister.
Chief Minister Sai said he discussed the Bodhghat Irrigation Project and the Indravati-Mahanadi Interlinking Project with Prime Minister Modi, emphasising their significance for Bastar’s development. He explained that due to prolonged Naxal influence, irrigation facilities in Bastar have remained underdeveloped, with only 1.36 lakh hectares out of 8.15 lakh hectares of cultivated land having irrigation access.
Key Project Details Shared by CM Sai
The Chief Minister highlighted that both projects have an estimated combined cost of ₹49,000 crore. The proposed Bodhghat Irrigation Project aims to benefit 269 villages in Dantewada, Bijapur, and Sukma districts, providing irrigation to 3,78,475 hectares during both Kharif and Rabi seasons. The project is also expected to generate 125 MW of electricity, ensure 49 million cubic metres of drinking water, and facilitate an annual fish production of 4,824 metric tonnes, leading to additional employment generation.
The Indravati-Mahanadi Interlinking Project plans to transfer approximately 100 TMC (2,830 million cubic metres) of Indravati river water to the Mahanadi basin. This will provide irrigation to over 3 lakh hectares, including 50,000 hectares in Kanker district. Together, both projects are expected to ensure irrigation for a total of 7 lakh hectares of land. The Chief Minister proposed that both the Bodhghat Multipurpose Irrigation Project and the Indravati-Mahanadi Interlinking Project be implemented as national projects.
Chief Minister Sai noted that Prime Minister Modi listened intently and promised to consider the proposals, which strengthened his belief in achieving comprehensive development in Bastar.
Long-Pending Bodhghat Project
The Bodhghat project, now over 45 years old, received environmental clearance for hydropower generation in 1979 when the area was part of undivided Madhya Pradesh. However, it did not commence as the then-government deemed it unsuitable for Bastar’s tribal-dominated population. After two decades of inactivity, the project was revised into an irrigation project aimed at providing water to thousands of villages in Bastar.
The Bodhghat irrigation project aims to cover 72 per cent of Bastar’s cultivable land, boosting agricultural activities. Its estimated cost is ₹22,000 crore, with a potential for 300 MW of hydroelectric power generation. A dam is proposed near Barsur village in Dantewada to irrigate 3,66,580 hectares of agricultural land in the Maoist-affected districts of Dantewada, Bijapur, and Sukma. WAPCOS Limited has been tasked with surveys, research, and obtaining necessary approvals.
Concerns and Objections
Environmentalists have objected to the project, raising concerns about the displacement of tribal communities. The project could submerge 5,010 hectares of private land and 3,068 hectares of government land, potentially harming forests and impacting the ecology of the Indravati Tiger Reserve, Bhairamgarh Wild Buffalo Sanctuary, and other nearby habitats of Indian wild buffaloes. Additionally, dams can affect fish by obstructing their natural migration routes between feeding and breeding grounds.
While the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh, approved alongside Bodhghat in January 1979, is 75 per cent complete, the Bodhghat project has not yet begun construction. WAPCOS has completed its survey and submitted a report to the state government, and the central government has approved the hydrology report. Work on the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is ongoing. The Chief Minister’s recent meeting with the Prime Minister is seen as a potential new beginning for this crucial project.
Development in Bastar and Other Initiatives
Chief Minister Sai also updated Prime Minister Modi on the changing landscape of Bastar, once known for “guns and landmines,” now seeing mobile towers. He reported that in the past one-and-a-half years, 64 new forward security camps have been established, and 671 mobile towers are operational, with 365 offering 4G services. This digital transformation connects tribal areas to the digital world.
He highlighted that basic facilities like electricity, water, health, and education are reaching villages around security camps. Under the ‘Niyad Nellannar Yojana’, 18 community services and 25 government schemes are being implemented simultaneously in 146 identified villages.
The Chief Minister also informed the Prime Minister about the reduction in rainy days in Chhattisgarh, from nearly 100 to 65 days. Modern techniques like GIS mapping and the ‘Jaldoot’ mobile app are being used for water conservation.
Chief Minister Sai also briefed the Prime Minister about the Nalanda Parisar, India’s first 24×7 hybrid public library built at a cost of ₹18 crore, offering e-library, youth tower, health zone, and solar energy systems. Over 11,000 students have benefited, with more than 300 achieving success in UPSC and CGPSC exams. He also shared details about the ‘Prayas’ model, which prepares underprivileged and tribal children for competitive exams like IIT, NEET, and CLAT, with 1,508 students gaining admission to national institutions so far.
