Korata-Chanaka Barrage Stalled by Fund Crunch, Land Acquisition
![Korata-Chanaka Barrage Stalled by Fund Crunch, Land Acquisition Korata-Chanaka Barrage Stalled by Fund Crunch, Land Acquisition](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/h-upload/2024/11/25/1866361-korata-chanakabarrage.webp)
Adilabad: The Korata-Chanaka barrage on the Penganga River has become a challenge as the acquisition of nearly 1,900 acres for canals, distributaries, and the reservoir remains unresolved, hindering the project's completion.
Securing land requires big compensation, straining the project’s finances. Initially estimated at Rs 2,100 crore in 2016, with Rs 1,050 crore already spent, an additional Rs 1,500 crore is now needed. Delays are expected to escalate costs further. Recently, Rs 72 crore was allocated specifically for land acquisition.
Farmers in Adilabad district are eager for the barrage to provide irrigation by the upcoming Kharif season. The project aims to irrigate 50,000 acres, including 13,000 acres in Boath and 37,000 acres in Adilabad Assembly Constituencies, while also preventing floods in Bela and Jainad mandals.
Adilabad MLA Payal Shankar has appealed to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for funds to complete the barrage. Additionally, BRS leaders, led by former Minister Jogu Ramanna, have visited the site to push for progress. Ramanna identified land acquisition as the key obstacle, noting farmers demand fair compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, 2017.
On September 28, 2023, a successful wet run released 300 cusecs downstream, signalling operational readiness. However, progress stalled post-election. Meanwhile, 90 farmers displaced by the Pippalkoti reservoir are demanding Rs 20 lakh per acre in compensation, a dispute that remains unresolved.
Farmer Raghavender of Bela mandal stressed the urgency for state intervention to fund the barrage's completion, highlighting the need for a reliable water source to support thousands of local farmers.
Irrigation officials are exploring options to expedite land acquisition and secure necessary funding. A high-level meeting involving the district collector and senior authorities is scheduled to discuss issuing a new tender for sediment transportation.