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Time of India
7 hours ago
- 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.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
HC: Notary Attested Affidavits Valid for Govt Tenders Unless Magistrate Clause Explicit
Nagpur: In a significant ruling set to streamline govt bidding procedures, the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court has ruled that affidavits attested by a notary public are sufficient for participation in public tenders, unless an explicit requirement for magistrate attestation is stated in the bid document or related policy. A division bench of justices Nitin Sambre and Vrushali Joshi quashed the disqualification of a Yavatmal contractor, who was barred from a Rs55 lakh tender issued by the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) for submitting an affidavit attested by a notary instead of a magistrate. "The petitioner executed the affidavit in compliance with statutory provisions," the bench noted, adding that VIDC's rejection of the bid amounted to a 'complete non-application of mind'. The petitioner, represented by counsel Tejas Deshpande, had bid for furnishing and repair work under the Wardha Barrage (Hadgaon) Lift Irrigation Scheme. He submitted an affidavit on Rs100 stamp paper, duly notarised in Form 6 format. However, on April 15, 2025, VIDC rejected his bid citing Clause 13(vi)(7) of the tender, which officials claimed mandated attestation by an executive or district magistrate. Deshpande argued that the said clause made no such specification and that a govt resolution issued on October 18, 2023, also did not insist on a magistrate's attestation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The court concurred, affirming that the Notaries Act, 1952, empowers notaries to administer oaths and validate affidavits, making notarised documents legally enforceable. The bench observed that VIDC effectively imposed a requirement that did not exist in either the tender conditions or state policy, thereby arbitrarily excluding a valid bid. It directed the agency to open and consider the petitioner's financial proposal. "Our observations lead to drawing the only conclusion that the petitioner complied with the tender condition and by no stretch of imagination leads to any other inference that the affidavit sworn before the notary cannot be equated with that of the affidavit sworn before the executive/district magistrate. The latter are appointed under the criminal law and it is not that any special powers are conferred on them while giving the oath or affirmation to that effect," the judges said. The ruling is expected to curb discretionary disqualifications by state agencies and clarifies that notarised affidavits, unless explicitly disallowed, meet the legal standard for tender compliance , Deshpande said.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Rubber dam will hold back water on Gondia river
Nagpur: The Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) plans to a pump up a dam on the Bagh River, which flows through Gondia along the Madhya Pradesh-Maharashtra border. Instead of a conventional concrete weir, VIDC plans to install an inflated rubber dam , which can go up to three metres in height. The rubber balloon will be strong enough to hold the river flow, increasing the water level. In times of flood, an inbuilt mechanism will deflate the rubber, allowing the water to flow away naturally. It is a new technology and would cost around Rs109 crore. Instead of building a concrete weir or a barrage, high-grade rubber walls filled with air will act as the barrier. Rubber makes the dam flexible; it will fall flat after the air is released when water has to be allowed to flow away, explained a VIDC engineer. The dam will have three spans held with piers, the source said. The need for a dam on the Bagh River arose due to the falling water level . Over the years, the level has depleted due to diversions for various uses like drinking water to even industries. Due to this, a lift irrigation scheme (LIS) remained unused. A river needs to have a certain minimum level of water for an LIS to operate. The Rajegaon Kati LIS nearby remained unused due to low water level of Bagh River. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ative o software antivírus do seu computador Clique aqui Undo The dam, which will be inflated in the post-monsoon period, will provide some depth to the river, raising the water levels enough to operate the LIS. During monsoons, the dam will be brought down by releasing the air, allowing the water to flow freely, the source said. Even a concrete dam could have been built. However, the Bagh river has typically heavy silt deposits. Following successive monsoons, there is a likelihood of the conventional dam getting covered by the silt, leading to the need for frequent clearing operations. Silt can even flatten a conventional weir. Instead, the rubber dam will flatten itself during the monsoons, and the silt will flow away with the water, said the source. The rubber dam, also called a balloon weir, will be procured through a tendering process. This was seen as an alternative to the silting problem, and the design was approved by the technical advisory committee of the state's water resource department (WRD). INFO HOPE FLOATS Balloon weir is high-grade rubber walls inflated with air, up to 3m high Strong enough to hold back river water In case of flood, inbuilt mechanism deflates balloon, allowing water to flow naturally Balloon weir will hold back enough water for Lift Irrigation System (LIS) to operate Dam will provide depth to river, raising water levels for LIS Concrete dam leads to accumulation of silt, requiring frequent dredging
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Gosikhurd Project's Deadline Pushed To 2027 As Cost Spirals
1 2 Nagpur: The Maharashtra govt has once again extended the deadline for the completion of the long-pending Gosikhurd Indira Sagar Project , now pushing its final timeline to 2027. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed to TOI that while all existing works would be wrapped up by Sept 2026, remaining proposed works will follow and conclude by the end of 2027. Earlier, the govt had set a 2025 deadline for the project, launched by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1988 with an original cost estimate of Rs372 crore, has seen repeated delays and is now projected to cost nearly Rs26,000 crore. A revised administrative approval of Rs25,972.69 crore was sanctioned by the Maharashtra Cabinet on April 21, aiming to accelerate the stalled on the Wainganga River in Bhandara district, the multipurpose irrigation project is being executed by the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC). Designed to benefit approximately 1.96 lakh hectares of farmland across Bhandara, Nagpur, and Chandrapur districts, it also includes provisions for drinking water, industrial supply, fisheries, and hydroelectric who earlier claimed in the state assembly in April 2024 that the project would be completed by 2025, reiterated that the delays were primarily due to the inefficiency of previous Congress govts. "This project could have transformed irrigation in Vidarbha, but persistent neglect by previous Congress govts delayed it," he had said in the obtained through an RTI filed by activist Abhay Kolarkar previously revealed that despite being declared a national project and receiving approval from the Central Water Commission's Technical Advisory Committee in 2008, the VIDC created only limited irrigation potential. Originally intended to irrigate 1.90 lakh hectares and projected to create potential for 2.5 lakh hectares, the project was supposed to be completed by sources within the irrigation department have pointed to systemic corruption, political interference, and poor fund allocation as reasons behind the project's stagnation. The Gosikhurd project is widely cited as an example of how mismanagement has turned a potentially transformative development into a financial in February 1981 and touted as a harbinger of agricultural revival for Vidarbha — a region long plagued by droughts, debt, and farmer suicides — the project has failed to meet expectations more than four decades later. The latest extension is seen as yet another attempt to breathe life into a scheme that once promised a green revolution in Maharashtra's most distressed farming belt.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Officials draw HC ire over delays in Ambazari dam, Nag River project
Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Wednesday slammed state agencies over prolonged delays in the Ambazari dam repair and Nag River rejuvenation projects. Taking serious note of the inaction, the court summoned senior officials and warned of possible contempt proceedings and scrutiny into the tendering process. A division bench comprising Justices Nitin Sambre and Vrushali Joshi directed the divisional commissioner, Nagpur municipal commissioner, and Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) executive director to appear in person at 10.30am on Thursday. The officers were instructed to submit detailed affidavits on the current status of both projects. The court expressed strong dissatisfaction with VIDC over the lack of progress in constructing Godbole gates at Ambazari dam. Despite floating tenders four to five times, the agency reported that no bids were received — something not disclosed during earlier hearings. The bench questioned why internal mechanisms were not activated to proceed with the work despite repeated tender failures and criticised the agency for lack of transparency. "You want the same deluge to occur again? Are your officers asleep all these days?" the bench verbally remarked, in reference to the devastating floods of September 23, 2023. The judges further questioned, "Why was the work not expedited over the last two months, and with whom are the files currently pending?" by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Upto 15% Discount for Salaried Individuals ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo The court also scrutinised the role of the divisional commissioner who heads a court-appointed committee overseeing the removal of river encroachments and flood mitigation efforts. Government Pleader Deven Chauhan was directed to identify the officer allegedly responsible for delaying the files related to the Nag River retention wall project. The bench warned VIDC of a possible deeper investigation into the tendering process, suggesting there may have been irregularities. "Are you at the mercy of contractors? Why hasn't the agency acted promptly?" the court asked. The bench warned VIDC that it may be compelled to "open a Pandora's box" into how tenders are being awarded to the contractors. The judges referred to past cases where tenders were allegedly granted within a day under questionable circumstances, implying that transparency and procedural integrity were being compromised. These directives were issued during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Ramgopal Bachuka and others, represented by advocate Tushar Mandlekar. In an earlier affidavit, the divisional commissioner had informed the court that desilting work was underway across the Nag, Pili, and Pohra rivers. The state government has sanctioned Rs304 crore for river and nullah development, with tenders floated and some initial work already begun. The state also outlined its progress on infrastructure upgrades. Desilting commenced on February 6 and is scheduled for completion by June 15, 2025. The work covers 16.58 km of the Nag River, 17.42 km of the Pili river, and 15.17 km of the Pohra River. Photographic evidence of the ongoing work was submitted to the court. The affidavit further noted that 1 km of retaining wall has been completed along Nag River, with an additional 0.662km currently under construction. The irrigation department also reported the dewatering of 32.06 crore litres from Ambazari lake as a flood prevention measure.
