Mathura 2016.08.11 (VT): The progress of the State Government’s Gangajal project, meant to provide drinking water to the Agra-Mathura corridor, has come to a halt in the Baldeo area by farmers through whose land it passes. Farmers who stopped the project are asking for more compensation than the Rs. 32 per square foot proposed by the Government.
UP State Government earlier proposed Rs. 32 per square feet to extend a pipeline from Bulandshahr to Agra via Mathura. But after the protest from farmers for more compensation, the project has been stopped until the issue can be settled.
The Chief Secretary designated by the State Government has instructed the DM to resolve the issues as soon as possible so that the project can be resumed. The farmers said that they are unhappy with the compensation as well as the modus operandi of the Mahavan SDM.
Farmers met the SDM yesterday under the leadership of local MLA Pooran Prakash. They asked that the compensation should be disbursed considering farmers are below poverty line, so that extra benefits can be added along with monetary gain. Farmers also alleged that SDM is putting pressure on them by threatening to arrest them on drummed up charges.
DM Nikhil Chandra Shukla has designated ADM (Revenue) Ravinder Kumar to resolve the issue so that the project can be started again.
The project was launched in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency in 2005, and was set for completion by March 2012. It includes the laying of a 130-km pipeline from Palra headworks in Bulandshahr’s Upper Ganga Canal to the Sikandra Water Works in Agra, via Mathura and Vrindavan. However, the project did not actually get started until January of last year.
As a result the original projected cost soared from Rs. 345 crore to 2,880 crore rupees. It will disburse 150 cusecs of drinking water. But Mathura will only get 10 cusecs out of it, where as 140 cusecs will be given to Agra. However, according to experts, even this amount is far from meeting the needs of Agra city.
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