Bembala Dam

 reservoir, dam

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PROJECT IS NOT COMPLETE.
WORK ON THE PROJECT IS STILL GOING ON.The Bembla project, which was supposed to irrigate over 53,000 hectares, remains a classic case of apathy, greed and corruption and unholy nexus between politicians, government authorities and contractors that led to inordinate delay and huge escalation of cost.

When the project was first envisaged in 1983, the cost was just Rs50.76 crore which was revised thrice and escalated to a whopping Rs2,176.28 crore in 2008-09. It would be revised for the fourth time, as project is not even completed halfway and has hardly benefited the farmers in adjoining area till date.

The shocking revelations came to fore on Sunday during 'Sinchan Shodh Yatra' by a joint delegation of five social organizations including Jan Manch, Vidarbha Economic Development (VED) Council and Bapuji Ane Smarak Samiti. It was a part of field visits to 45 projects under Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC). Earlier, the shodh yatra has covered eight such projects, including the ambitious Gosikhurd, to find out inordinate delay in their completion.

A glance at the main canal reveals shoddy work by the contractor — Metachem from Mumbai. The lining was done in patches and, due to use of substandard material, it's already cracking. According to experts from the joint forum, the contractor had laid cement layer of just 2mm thickness when it should have been at least be 6mm. Even a slight blow results into cracking of canal walls. The condition of sub-canals is even worse where only land is dug but walls are not cemented. The bushes and shrubs are seen along while its roots penetrating the walls.

Only dam work was completed so far, just like Gosikhurd, but due to incomplete canals, the water can't be released for use by farmers, thus defeating the very purpose of the ambitious project. The villagers from 16 villages from Babhulgaon which are completely submerged under dam water complain that their land was very fertile which used to yield high quality cotton.

However information about the Project:
Official Designation of Bambela Dam Irrigation Project is " Bambela Dam , D - 03018 "
The Bembla major irrigation project is being constructed in Yavatmal District of Maharashtra state. The project envisages construction of 7203 m long earthenand Masonary dam with a maximum height of 19.06 m and 447 m long masonry/concrete dam having the maximum height of 29.15 m with 297 m long central spillway having 20 radial gates, each of size 12 X 8 m across river Bembla near Khadak - Sawanga in Babhulgaon taluka of Yavatmal District. The project also includes 115 km long Right Bank Canal with distribution network and Dehani Lift Irrigation Scheme (LIS). The annual irrigation potential of the project is 52543 Ha. (47,000 Ha. By flow and 5543 Ha. by lift) in Yavatmal District.The CCA of the project is 60528 hectare.
Present Status:
March 2007, 96% main dam, 35% works on the main canal/branch canals, 10% works of Distributaries and Minors, part works of Dehani Lift Irrigation Scheme were complete. The project is planned to be completed by 2013-14.This Government projection does not seem to be correct and there may be time over runs.