“We Will Work Rapidly” WRD Secretary Rajesh Toppo: Govt Vows Speedy Execution Of Sikasar-Kodar Project After HC Win

Chhattisgarh Water Resources Department Secretary Shri Rajesh Sukumar Toppo Said Sikasar-Kodar is Chhattisgarh’s Most Ambitious Irrigation Project

Court Verdict In Govt’s Favor, Work On Rs 2,525 Cr Sikasar-Kodar To Begin Soon

WRD Chief Rajesh Sukumar Toppo Says Sikasar-Kodar Canal Link To Transform Irrigation In Chhattisgarh

HC Green Signal Boosts Govt’s Mega Irrigation Push, Says Water Resources Dept

Welcoming the Chhattisgarh High Court’s verdict, Shri Rajesh Kumar Toppo, Secretary of the Water Resources Department, said the ruling has come in favor of the state government and will pave the way for faster execution of key irrigation works.

“The court’s decision has come in favor of the government. We will now work rapidly towards completing this ambitious irrigation project,” Toppo said.

Water Resources Department Secretary Shri Rajesh Sukumar Toppo further stated that the Sikasar-Kodar Canal Link Project holds special significance for the state.
“This is the most ambitious among the four major irrigation projects approved by the Chhattisgarh government,” he added.

WRD Secretary Shri Rajesh Sukumar Toppo said the project, worth Rs 2,525 crore, involves a 90 km pipeline to connect the Sikasar and Kodar reservoirs. Once operational, it is expected to provide irrigation to thousands of hectares and benefit over 1.25 lakh farmer families across the region.

The projects include the Sikasar-Kodar Reservoir Link Project, the Matnar-Dewargav Project in Bastar division, and the Mohalai-Sirpur Barrage Project in Raipur district. With the court’s decision, the path for construction and faster execution has now opened.

A division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal upheld the tender process, eligibility criteria and technical evaluation adopted by the Water Resources Department as lawful and in accordance with rules.

Following the verdict, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai directed officials to complete the construction of these important irrigation projects in a quality and time-bound manner. He said this will ensure early irrigation facilities to farmers, boost agricultural production and give new momentum to the rural economy.

These multi-purpose projects will help in irrigation expansion, water conservation, drinking water availability, and industrial development. They also include 21 MW of clean hydropower generation.

The state government claimed the projects will strengthen irrigation and water resource infrastructure in the state.
The Matnar-Dewargav Multi-purpose Lift Irrigation Project in Bastar alone will provide permanent irrigation to about 16,000 hectares of cultivated land. The project will also generate 21 MW of hydropower.

Court Refuses To Interfere In Several Matters
In its judgment, the court clarified that the tender-inviting authority is the best judge of its technical and commercial requirements. The court can only review the legality of the decision-making process.

The court also refused to interfere in the technical evaluation done by the expert committee and upheld the department’s action as per rules.

The government stated that this is the first time a tender process with such stringent provisions has been adopted by implementing agencies in the state.

With legal clearance now in place, work on these projects is expected to pick up pace.

The Water Resources Department is set to expedite tendering and construction to ensure early benefits to farmers.