Raipur
After more than 45 years of delay, the ambitious Bodhghat Project is finally set to proceed, receiving a green signal from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced the major development to the media at Raipur Airport following a meeting with the Prime Minister in Delhi.
The ₹49,000-crore multipurpose project is expected to transform the Bastar region and nearly half of Chhattisgarh by providing irrigation to over 7 lakh hectares of land. It will also generate 125 megawatts of electricity and includes a planned link to the Mahanadi River, which is expected to benefit farmers in the state’s plains as well.
Originally conceptualized in 1980 with a focus on electricity generation, the Bodhghat Project—built on the Indravati River in Bastar—later expanded to include irrigation. The project will serve multiple districts, including Dantewada, Sukma, Bijapur, Kanker, Narayanpur, Rajnandgaon, Kawardha, and Mungeli.
Despite receiving initial approval in 1985, the project was delayed due to environmental and social hurdles, especially after the Forest Conservation Act was introduced in 1980. Further complications arose from the growth of Naxalism in Bastar and opposition from local residents over land acquisition. These issues stalled all progress—until now.
Chief Minister Sai emphasized that the revived project will bring irrigation to large parts of the Bastar region, including Dantewada, Sukma, and Bijapur. The accompanying hydroelectric facility will supply 125 megawatts to the state’s energy grid. The planned integration with the Mahanadi River system will extend benefits to Rajnandgaon, Kawardha, and Mungeli, reaching even the remote farmlands.
Additionally, the project is projected to support fish production of nearly 4 lakh tonnes annually, further boosting the regional economy.
Surveys show that the project will increase irrigation coverage by 65.73% in Dantewada, 60.59% in Sukma, and 68.72% in Bijapur. A total of 359 villages are set to benefit—151 in Dantewada, 90 in Sukma, and 218 in Bijapur.
To implement the project, around 13,783 hectares of land will be needed: 5,704 hectares of forest land, 5,010 hectares of private land, and 3,068 hectares of government land. The construction will completely submerge around two dozen villages and partially affect 14 others, displacing over 2,000 families.
Calling it a “lifeline” for Bastar and a substantial part of the state, Chief Minister Sai said the project—dormant for over four decades—will now drive development and prosperity. Its scale even surpasses Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram Project, he added.
During his Delhi visit, Sai also discussed the Bodhghat Project and its river-linking component with PM Modi. Following the approval, the Prime Minister advised presenting it to the Union Jal Shakti Minister, and the state government has already begun preparations for this.
Originally envisioned in 1980—the same period that saw the rise of Naxalism in Bastar—the project was stalled before any groundwork could be laid. With security concerns now easing and central clearance in hand, the Bodhghat Project is poised to become a landmark in Bastar’s progress.
