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The irrigation projects are aimed to achieve strategic economic growth in the Chhattisgarh districts. It will benefit many sectors including agriculture, drainage systems, management of water resources, and other areas of capacity management. The projects are funded by the Water Users Association of Chhattisgarh, ATF-DFID of the United Kingdom, and many other multi-donor trust organizations. The project developments will be procured in the districts of Ambikapur, Jagdalpur, Raipur, and Bilaspur. The topmost priority of the Government has been to conserve the voluntary settlements of the residential population while constructing the infrastructure. In this project, we are going to briefly discuss the salient features of the irrigation plan.
Mahanadi Main Canal
The Mahanadi main canal is noted for its elevation of 1050 feet. It is located near the Rudranath Temple and to the south of the Mahanadi main canal exists the Pathritola Reserved Forest space. This place is also a popular tourist destination. Irrigation projects that are planned to be executed over the Mahanadi main canal will be able to supply drinking water to the population of Raipur. A total amount of RS.26.78 crores has been allotted by the Government for the completion of this project. Along with the Mahanadi main canal project, several other villages will also receive the irrigation facilities that are spread over 2000 hectares of arable land across Raipur. Five sub canals are to be lined with concrete fixtures to give this endeavor a complete shape. This proposal was put forward for the first time by Ajay Chandrakar, Head of the Ministry of Rural Development in 2015. This project is expected to irrigate a surplus land of 127 hectares after it is finished and ready to operate. However, the state government has realized that the Mahanadi main canal irrigation itself is not sufficient to solve the problems of the farmers. They must also arrange for improved ways of water management.
At present, the government is monitoring the construction of eight large-scale, 4 medium, and several small irrigation projects across the state. Mahanadi river will be extensively used for industrial purposes in the future due to which there is a blueprint of six barrages that are to be constructed over the main canal. One such instance of modernization can be witnessed in the Korba district of Chhattisgarh where the construction of the Hasdeo Bango barrage is already completed. Almost 800 rural settlements of Raigarh and Korba are benefited due to this extensive arrangement. The government has also aided with Rs. 10 crores for providing facilities for electricity-driven irrigation. The Naya Raipur venture is expected to meet all the drinking water demands of the state by the year 2040. Anicuts that have evolved side by side are utilized to extract groundwater which facilitates agriculture and other household jobs.
Mahanadi Reservoir Complex
When we refer to the Mahanadi reservoir complex, we think of the Hirakud Dam. It is almost 55 km long. It has been in action since 1957. This dam plays a crucial role in the Mahanadi reservoir complex by fulfilling three main purposes. It facilitates irrigation of the delta basin of Mahanadi. It is used to generate hydropower that matches 307.5 MW or pre-installed capacity. This reservoir also protects the surrounding area from a flood. The Ravishankar Sagar Project is another multipurpose reservoir that serves industrial purposes as well as acts as a hydropower plant. It has an astounding depth of 32 meters. The Dudhawa reservoir is located in Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari district. It provides agricultural water to the lands located nearby the Tandula canal system. The gross productivity area of this reservoir is cited as 566 sq. Km.
Maniyari Tank
This project is planned on a tributary of the Shivnath river in Chhattisgarh state, named Maniyari. Its main purpose is to act as a reservoir. It was a project that was solely focused on renovation purposes. This tank serves irrigation purposes across the Mahanadi basin. The Maniyari Tank desperately needed reconstruction as it falls among the oldest canals situated in Bilaspur. Annual floods dictated the amount of water storage by the tank. Low aging led to various problems like internal erosion, plug seepages, and various supplementary distribution losses. The renovation was planned after considering the water needs and cropping behaviors of each tertiary region.
Conclusion
Be it agriculture or large-scale industrial operations, these functions cannot be modernized without implementing irrigation techniques. Therefore, the Government constantly puts efforts to enhance and further renovate the dams, reservoirs, anicuts, and other projects that are built over the Mahanadi River. This river is characterized by periodic rise and fall of water levels throughout the year. Hydropower plants have been constructed over areas that supply electricity to many locations in Chhattisgarh. Developmental projects are still in progress to improve the lifestyle of the rural communities.
