Nagpur: Fresh trouble is brewing for authorities as farmers from Sironcha taluka in Maoist-affected Gadchiroli district are gearing up to launch agitation against the inter-state Medigadda Kaleshwar barrage project between Maharashtra and Telangana. The backwater has submerged their crops and farmlands as the Telangana authorities have not reduced storage by opening the gates.
Villagers are also stating that the barrage has affected their socio-cultural life too as they had to stop rituals in Godavari river, which they had been performing since several generations, due to the construction of the barrage.
Farmer Madhusudan Arveli, also leader of the Medigadda-Kaleshwar Barrage Sangharsh Committee, said the project is not benefiting Maharashtra. “A bulk of the population from Sironcha has lost access to Godavari river which is their lifeline. Forget irrigation or drinking water, farmers are losing crops as the backwaters are flooding their fields,” he said.
The barrage was nearly filled in the month of February this year and backwater flooded farms in several villages including Arda, Nagaram, Mrudu Kistapur, Rajannapalli, Janapalli, Maddikunta and adjoining villages. By the time Telangana authorities reduced the storage, the damage had already been done.
“The farmers are now contemplating to revive the protest as the project is affecting their livelihood,” said Arvelli.
Collector Deepak Singla said compensation would be given to the affected farmers.
The barrage was inaugurated in the presence of chief ministers of Telangana and Maharashtra. The project has led to repeated protests by affected farmers of the taluka in the past.
The Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government had given approval for the project in 2016. The Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) government in June instituted a committed to inquire into allegations of irregularities in the project.
Apart from other allegations of breach of contract by the Telangana government, a committee headed by divisional commissioner Sanjeev Kumar was also supposed to probe into the objection raised by the forest department regarding threats caused by the project to its land. The erstwhile district collector had reportedly not taken cognisance of the objection.
Tehsildar Ramesh Jaswant of Sironcha said Rs17 lakh would be distributed among affected farmers. “Villagers also want access to the bridge on the barrage for travelling to Telangana. The bridge is meant for carrying out maintenance work on the barrage and not for public transport. Permitting vehicles may damage the bridge. Only pedestrians can be allowed. The bridge cannot be kept open as it may pose a security threat in the sensitive region,” said the tehsildar.
NCP MLA Dharmaraobaba Atram has threatened to launch an agitation if the stored water is not released by opening the gates of the barrage.