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Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Committee demands adequate compensation for Gosikhurd Dam project affected farmers, families
Written by: Kartika Jamdar Members of the Gosikhurd Prakalpgrast Sangharsh Samiti that represents farmers, agricultural labourers, and fishermen, affected by the ongoing Gosikhurd Dam project demanded adequate compensation for the affected families. Speaking to the media in Nagpur, members of the committee vowed to intensify their agitation and even threatened to move courts against the alleged government indifference. Speaking at a press conference in Nagpur on Monday, Advocate Govind Bhendarkar and Ram Bante, accused the state government of neglecting the demands of those displaced by the Gosikhurd National Irrigation Project (GNIP) — a major irrigation project being built on the Godavari basin, specifically on the Wainganga river. While around 2,50,800 hectares of land in Nagpur, Bhandara, and Chandrapur were expected to be under irrigation, the Sangharsha Samiti claimed that the project has failed to bring even 40 percent of the promised land under irrigation. The committee further raised concerns over pollution of water and demanded adequate compensation for families affected by the project as per the provisions of the National Rehabilitation Policy 2007 and the Maharashtra State Rehabilitation Act 1999. They demanded that a total sum of Rs 10 lakh be given to each family as compensation instead of Rs 2.9 lakh. The representatives of the Sangharsha Samiti said that while Gosikhurd Prakalp Stariya Vyavasthapan Samiti was set up in 1992 and it included both government officials as well as members of affected farmer communities, it has only met 18 times until 2020 and has not met since. 'We demand that this committee needs to convene immediately, and if not, we will have to take this matter to court,' Bhendarkar said. A 2018 CAG report tabled in the Assembly revealed that between 2012 and 2017, the Gosikhurd Dam project failed to deliver on key promises. It flagged poor planning, cost overruns, contract violations, and delayed rehabilitation efforts, all of which ultimately allegedly benefited contractors more than communities. Due to the lack of basic civic infrastructure, only 20 percent of the promised land was brought under irrigation. The report also confirmed that the dam water was polluted by untreated sewage and contaminated river inflows. In 2023, Ashok Nete, former MP from Gadchiroli-Chimur, addressed the Lok Sabha on the question of compensation given to the Project Affected Persons saying, 'Regarding rehabilitation and resettlement of the project affected families (PAFs), it is informed that the project involves 85 fully affected and 183 partially affected villages, involving 14,984 PAFs…. So far, 12,298 PAFs have been reported by the State Government to have been resettled.'
Time of India
09-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
PAPs distressed over contaminated water in Gosikhurd dam
Nagpur: Yet another group from the area covered under the Gosikhurd irrigation project has raised concerns over contaminated water in the dam. The Chandrapur-based Gosikhurd Prakalpagrast Sangharsh Samiti, an association of project-affected persons (PAPs), has claimed that villages in the district are getting contaminated water from the dam. It's unfit for use by even cattle, claimed the Samiti. The project's environment management committee, which reviews these matters, has not held a single meeting in the last five years. The last meeting was in 2020. The panel comprises officials from the agriculture, health, and groundwater survey departments, as well as representatives of the PAP, said Govind Bhendarkar, the Samiti's convenor, at a press conference in Nagpur on Monday. He said the contaminated water from the Nag River and Kanhan River is ultimately getting collected in the Gosikhurd dam. The water poses a hazard to humans and even cattle, leading to health issues, he said. Officials of the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) accepted that there have been complaints, especially from the fishing cooperatives about quality of water. The fishermen cooperatives have approached VIDC with reports of poor-quality water hampering fish breeding, the source said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The officer also accepted that the environment committee had not met, but a meeting is planned in a month, he said. A senior official of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) said pollution has been a concern for Gosikhurd waters. However, the level of contamination has gradually come down over the years. As much as 413 MLD of water out of over 500 MLD flowing is now getting treated. This flows from Nag River to Kanhan, finally merging into Wainganga River on which the Gosikhurd dam has been built. The water is treated by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) However, untreated sewage water flowing from other municipal bodies like Kamptee, Mouda, & even Bhandara continues to go into Gosikhurd waters. Notices have been sent to local bodies.
