Summary:
In last two decades, Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) has spent mere Rs300 crore on Lower Painganga project and the work is still at the primary stage. The embargo continued for 19 years in the case of Lower Painganga. For Lower Painganga, the VIDC will have to spend at least Rs16,000 crore. Even Maharashtra should go for smaller dams to avoid large-scale displacement,” he said.Sources in the VIDC said now Lower Painganga is much lower in priority due to which even the fund allocation is low. An inter-state project with Telangana, the dam being built in farmers’ suicide-hit Yavatmal district, has now been put on hold due to lack of funds.VIDC has said in an affidavit that Lower Painganga dam will take another 25 years to be completed, once the work begins..