Gaya: The North Koel Canal Project is likely to face further delays as landowners are obstructing its execution. According to official sources, approximately 30% of landowners in Gaya district have refused compensation, arguing that the offered amount is far below the prevailing market price. Land prices have seen a sharp increase in recent years.
Confirming the refusal of a section of farmers and landowners to part with their land, Gaya district land acquisition officer Ravindra Ram stated that efforts are underway to mitigate the impact of this resistance. The government has now taken possession of the land, which is being handed over to the Water Resources Department (WRD). The compensation amount for reluctant farmers is being deposited with the competent authority. Since the court has not stayed the land acquisition proceedings, the land is legally deemed to have been acquired.
Aurangabad officiating District Magistrate Anugrah Narain Singh told this newspaper on Friday that some land acquisition issues persist in Aurangabad as well, but the exact quantification of land yet to be fully acquired cannot be determined immediately. He noted that about 70% of the project work has been completed.
The project, which is being monitored at high levels including the Prime Minister's Office and the state government, missed the March 31 deadline. According to a senior WRD officer, no new deadline has been set for completion.
The project was originally initiated in 1972 but was subsequently halted due to environmental concerns, as the dam height was feared to pose a threat to the Palamu Tiger Reserve. Work resumed only in 2017 after the dam height was reduced to address those concerns. The water source for the project lies in the neighboring state of Jharkhand.
The project cost has also skyrocketed over time. Initially estimated at Rs 30 crore in 1972, it is now projected to cost a whopping Rs 2,430 crore. Once completed, the canal will irrigate approximately 1,25,000 hectares of land in the drought-prone Gaya and Aurangabad districts of the Magadh division, with Aurangabad being the major beneficiary. Specifically, the canal will irrigate 95,000 hectares in Aurangabad and 30,000 hectares in Gaya.
Non-conventional construction techniques are being adopted to minimize water waste by making the canal bed and side slopes non-porous. This technique, according to domain experts, improves hydraulic efficiency, prevents soil erosion, and increases the flow velocity of irrigation water.
