Bhopal:Sunday, April 6, 2008:Initiating the much delayed works of canal complexes of major dam irrigation projects by floating tenders involving works amounting more than Rs.2500 crores, the NVDA is now zeroing into the availability of land which falls under the construction of canals in the command areas of various projects. “We have fixed the construction agencies of national repute, completing all pre-construction formalities and now moving towards providing way to start
works in near future”, said Pradip Bhargava, Vice Chairman of Naramada Valley Development Authority in a reply to a question about the approach of NVDA on time bound construction of canal network of Indira Sagar, Omkareshwar, Bargi Diversion and other ongoing projects in the valley. He informed that Collectors of command areas would be asked to look into updating land records which is the primary need of making communication with land owners. Bhargava informed that for timely completion of land acquisition, sufficient number of LAOs would be deployed. Vice Chairman said that decision has been taken to hire services of the retired Revenue Officers, Revenue Inspectors and Patwaris to help in completing paper formalities. Mr. Bhargava reiterates that the delay in process will not be tolerated and officers would be answerable.
To transform the land acquisition strategy in to the ground campaign a State level meeting was convened by Member (Rehabilitation) NVDA, D.S.Rai, here at Narmada Bhawan, the other day. The Revenue Officers and Field Engineers were briefed about the strategy. Rai asked the Engineers and Revenue officers to complete the ongoing process of land acquisition and prepare advance plans for keeping in view the further scope of canal construction works. The field officers informed that farmers are generally reluctant to allow the contractor to use the un-acquired subsidiary land for temporary movement purposes. Member (R&R) directed the officers that in such cases, the provision of temporary land acquisition should be exercised to compensate the farmers for their crop loss. Member R&R also asked the officers to calculate the compensation amount required for the land to be acquired in their respective area of operation so that the amount may be transferred well in advance to the district administration. The officers were also briefed by Member (Engg.) V.K.Bhatia and Secretary NVDA M.M.Khaira. It may be mentioned here that there is a target to create 1.23 lakh ha. irrigation potential from Indira Sagar, 1.47 lakh ha. from Omkareshwar, 2.45 lakh from Bargi Diversion and 9 thousand 900 ha. Potential from Upper Veda Project.