Assam Minister Reviews Dhansiri Irrigation Project Which Stands Under Construction Since 1975

GUWAHATI:

Assam irrigation minister Ashok Singhal reviewed the Dhansiri Irrigation Project that has been on halt for the last 45 years. 

The construction of the irrigation project has been incomplete in the year 1975. 

Ashok Singhal, the Minister of Irrigation and Urban Development in the Assam Cabinet, claimed that he is hopeful that the project will finally be completed by the end of this fiscal year. 

"On my way to Dhansiri Irrigation Project to review the under construction project which started in the year 1975 and still incomplete after 45 years. We are very hopeful and working for its completion by end of this financial year," tweeted the Assam Cabinet Minister yesterday. 

Despite pledges by various governments to complete this mega construction project, the Dhansiri Irrigation Project remains unfinished to this day. Back in 2018, the cost involving the completion of this project was estimated to be over Rs 566 crore. 

The Dhansiri Irrigation Project, one of the State's major irrigation projects, began in 1974-75 with a budget of Rs. 15.83 crore along the scenic triangle border of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Bhutan with the goal of irrigating 12000 hectares of cultivable land. 

Back in 2016, the then newly formed Greater Udalguri Conscious Citizens' Forum (GUCCF) alleged that there is a nexus among the officials, employees, and contractors concerned and criticized them for their utter negligence in their efforts towards trying to complete the long-pending construction project. 

The GUCCF had then alleged that the Dhansiri Irrigation Project had turned into a white elephant due to the faulty action plans, rampant large-scale corruption and lack of awareness among the farmers who would have been the beneficiaries of the project. T

he then President of GUCCF Prafulla Kumar Basumatary and chief secretary Dalim Bayan have expressed concern over the alleged indifferent attitude of the new Irrigation Minister Ranjit Dutta during his recent visit to Bhairabkunda to take stock of the development.

Later, talking to The Sentinel, secretary of GUCCF, Dalim Bayan said that the Irrigation Minister told the delegation of the organization that he was not aware of the irregularities and scams of the irrigation project during the regime of Congress but would not allow any form of corruption in his regime. 

The Dhansiri irrigation project was launched in 1974-75, however it has yet to serve the goal of the farmers owing to widespread corruption in it from its beginning, for which the farmers of the region have dubbed it the "Dhansiri Never-Ending Irrigation Project." 

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