Chhattisgarh to build seven barrages on Mahanadi
By IANSSaturday, January 15, 2011
RAIPUR - The Chhattisgarh government will construct a chain of seven barrages on Mahanadi river at an investment of about Rs.1,467 crore to provide water to dozens of industries, mainly the power plants, coming up in Raigarh and Janjgir-Champa districts, official sources said Saturday.
“Four barrages are to be constructed in Janjgir-Champa, while two in Raigarh and one in Raipur district, all on river Mahanadi to feed water to dozens of power plants coming up in these areas,” a source in the water resource department said.
The total construction cost will be around Rs.1,467 crore but the government would manage to get Rs.628 crore annually from industries as water tax once the supply is made available. That may take up to three years, the source added.
An industry department official say that over 40 thermal power plants are coming up in the three districts with 33 of them to be in Janjgir-Champa alone and the government needs to have enough barrages to ensure uninterrupted water supply to industries.
