Silver lining for decades-old dam project as locals agree to relocate

Time of India

2 days ago

Daltonganj/Garhwa: Decks have been cleared for beginning the operations of Mandal Dam by the end of this year after residents of seven villages, which were in the submergence area of the project, agreed to relocate in exchange of compensation packages.
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"As many as 780 families of Kutku, Bhajna, Khura, Khaira, Chemo, Saneya and Meral villages will be relocated. They will be provided Rs 15 lakh and an acre of land each as compensation," P K Jena, deputy director of Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR), said on Monday. The development came after officials from the PTR and Garhwa district administration visited the site of the project and took stock of things on July 12. Govt sources said chief secretary Alka Tiwari recently directed the district administrations in Latehar and Palamu, along with PTR management, to expedite the relocation of villages in time-bound manner.
Garhwa deputy commissioner Dinesh Kumar Yadav said, "The Mandal Dam Project has been lying pending for the last more than six years. Now Garhwa district administration is striving for its revival. The villagers affected from the Mandal Dam will be rehabilitated in Ranka block's Bishrampur village. Basic amenities such as road, drinking water, health, education and irrigation facilities will be provided not only to the rehabilitated families but also to the already inhabitant of the area.
It is the govt's priority to provide them a better standard of life."
The dam was conceptualised in 1960s. Its construction began in 1970s on the North Koel river but was not completed. In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for revival of the project, which would collectively cost Rs 2,391.36 crore. Four sluice gates will be built to store water, state water resources department officials, who are overseeing the project, said.
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Once operational, it will help in irrigate around 20,000 hectares of land in Jharkhand and over 90,000 hectares in Bihar.
After revised plan, the dam's full reservoir level (FRL) has been reduced from 367 meters to 341 metersto store 190 MCM (million cubic meter) water.
Kutku Doob Chetra Sangharsh Samiti, an outfit representing the rights of the families facing displacement, welcomed the move. Its president Pratap Tirkey said, "We have been promised road, education, health, irrigation, drinking water, sanitation etc on the resettled site by the administration." Tirkey said his outfit did not oppose the project but demanded a fair deal.