To put an end to water woes in Bundelkhand, the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam, with the support of the Irrigation department, will revive and complete over a dozen projects in the seven districts of the region. It also plans to create a network of canals to tackle the water problem.

The Jal Nigam has already asked the department to submit details of these projects — including dams and canals. The focus will be on projects that have been approved in the last two financial years. Managing Director Anil Kumar Srivastava said: “We have a list of around dozen projects lying incomplete. While some are 55 to 60 per cent complete, the others have crossed the 33 per cent mark and can be revived.” The Jal Nigam’s district offices and the Irrigation department have been asked to send a feasibility report and also, a completion and fund use report, he added.

The Jal Nigam has already been sanctioned over Rs 15 crore for the drinking water restructuring project, under which, the incomplete projects will get a fresh lease of life. Among these, the incomplete Madan Sagar and Urmil Sagar dams in Mahoba district top the list, along with a link canal network to Govind Sagar and Barua Sagar dams in Lalitpur and Jhansi districts respectively.

According to an official, the Jal Nigam aims to complete Urmil Sagar and Madan Sagar dams by the end of this financial year. The Urban Development department has already released funds of around Rs 8 crore for Mahoba in the first phase. “Hence, we are focusing on incomplete projects in this district. Both these dams, along with a network of canals, are nearly 75 per cent complete. We have already received sanctions in the financial year 2008-09 and this makes it easier for us to begin work,” said Srivastava.

... contd.