Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav stated that while the Vindhya region is rich in resources, it faces the challenge of water scarcity in certain areas. The Sleemanabad Tunnel will serve as a lifeline an ‘Amritdhara’ for the districts of Katni, Rewa, Satna, Maihar, and Panna. Chief Minister Dr Yadav shared these details while speaking to the media after inspecting the Sleemanabad Water Tunnel, on Friday. CM Dr Yadav stated that with the blessings of Lord Shri Ram, the irrigated area across these five districts in the Chitrakoot region and the Vindhya valley will expand by a total of 2.5 lakh hectares. The project will resolve drinking water issues for the local population and facilitate electricity generation at several points. It will play a pivotal role in fulfilling the State’s resolve to increase its irrigated land. Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of the state’s citizens, Chief Minister Dr Yadav noted that the Central Government contributed approximately Rs 275 crore towards the project’s total cost of Rs 1,600 crore. Driven by the State Government’s commitment, this challenging tunnel project is now nearing completion. The tunnel acts as a boon for farmers and local traders alike. Chief Minister Dr Yadav stated that while the Narmada river naturally flows into the Gulf of Khambhat, it is a marvel of science that Mother Narmada will now bring greenery to the region Contd from page 1 surrounding the Son River - within the Ganga basin - through this historic tunnel. The Chief Minister said that despite the recurring challenges posed by hard rock formations, the entire team work with the determination to complete the Narmada tunnel. At one point, the State’s irrigated area stood at only 7.5 lakh hectares. Under BJP governments, this figure rose to 44 lakh hectares, and in the last two-and-a-half years alone, it has expanded to 65 lakh hectares. The Narmada tunnel project serves as a major gift to farmers during this ‘Year of Farmers’ Welfare.’

 

In the coming three months, irrigation water will be made available to farmers for one lakh hectares of land for the Rabi crop. Dr Yadav stated that the Son Kachhar project, with a discharge of 152 cubic meters, will provide irrigation facilities to a total command area of 185,000 hectares - spanning 104,970 hectares in Satna district, 54,227 hectares in Maihar district, 21,823 hectares in Katni district, 3,532 hectares in Rewa district, and 448 hectares in Panna district. Simultaneously, canal construction work is progressing rapidly. Dr Yadav noted that the tunnel project features a unique design where the Narmada River will flow through the tunnel, while the Katni River will flow over it. This tunnel project is a major boon for the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand regions and will fulfill the public’s aspirations. The Irrigation Department has performed commendably amidst challenging circumstances. Chief Minister Dr Yadav appealed to farmers not to sell their land at any cost; the region is poised to surpass Punjab and Haryana in the future. Migration from the area will cease, ushering in economic prosperity. He attributed this historic achievement to the tireless efforts of the Narmada Valley Development Authority’s engineers, officials, staff, and thousands of workers. During the inspection, the Chief Minister interacted warmly with the workers engaged in the tunnel construction, boosted their morale, and appreciated their contribution to this historic undertaking. Dr Yadav explained that the tunnel was safely excavated beneath national highways, railway lines, underground crossings, and populated areas without causing any structural damage. Furthermore, there was no environmental damage. The rehabilitation, compensation, and relocation of families affected by the project were handled with complete sensitivity and transparency. Public representatives present during the interaction with the press included Minister of State for Urban Development and Housing Pratima Bagri, MPs Vishnudutt Sharma and Ganesh Singh, MLAs Pranay Pandey, Sandeep Jaiswal, Dhirendra Singh, and Sanjay Pathak, along with Additional Chief Secretary (Water Resources) Dr Rajesh Rajora.