9 Nagpur villages relocated under Gosikhurd irrigation project

Out of a total 14,948 villager-families, 5,715 families have been provided with alternate shelter after shifting them from Nagpur and Bhandara districts, Assistant Commissioner of Nagpur division (Rehabilitation), Rajlaxmi Shah who is presently monitoring the project, said.  

The Gosikhurd irrigation project is coming up on river Vainganga which flows across Bhandara district. The project was conceived way back in 1983. But it was actually launched on April 22, 1988 by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Gosikhurd village in Bhandara which was part of then Chimur Lok Sabha constituency.

After 26 years, this ambitious project has become the epitome of neglect and disappointment for people in Vidarbha.  

The project was expected to irrigate about 2,50,800 hectares of land in three districts in eastern Vidarbha (Nagpur, Bhandara and Chandrapur) but so far it has created an irrigation potential for only 36,894 hectares.  

The project on Vainganga river which flows from Balaghat (MP) to Pranhita river (Gadchiroli), was marred by several alleged irregularities, violation of norms, sub standard work, breach in canals and charges of corruption.