Dhanbad, July 1: The Rs 10-crore Damodar Action Plan, a series of ambitious yet necessary anti-pollution projects in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Bokaro and various other towns, is in limbo because of land issues.

Among the 15 approved projects in Ranchi and Jamshedpur, over half a dozen are yet to take off.

The projects include setting up sewage treatment plants, low-cost sanitation (LCS) units, interception and diversion of river waters, afforestation, improved wood crematoriums, riverfront development and solid waste management.

Initiated by the National River Conservation Authority as a part of the second phase of the Ganga Action Plan, DAP was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in 1996 and was slated to be completed by 2003.

Of the total approved cost of Rs 22.41 crore, Rs 10.22 crore was allocated for DAP in Jharkhand. It was to be monitored by the National River Conservation Directorate.

Apart from Ranchi and Jamshedpur, DAP was to be implemented in Bokaro- Kargli, Chirkunda, Dugdha, Jharia, Ramgarh, Sindri, Sudamdih and Telmochho. But land issues have stalled work in many.

Of the 15 projects in Ranchi and Jamshedpur, nine were completed in eight years, between 1996 and 2004, while two were completed by 2007. The remaining four are now stuck.

According to a status report of the Dhanbad-based Mineral Area Development Authority (MADA), appointed by NRCD as nodal implementing agency for the core schemes, eight units of LCS were to be installed in Jamshedpur under SAP.

Of them, four have been completed, but of the remaining four, work has been stalled in two projects despite NOCs. For the other two, NOCs are awaited from the Jamshedpur utilities Services Company.

In Ranchi, two units of LCS have been completed but the district administration has to issue NOC for five others. Also, MADA has dropped the crematorium work after the Ranchi Regional Development Authority took over construction.

Mineral Area Development Authority managing director Badruzzama Ansari said for the last four years, several letters were written to respective district administrations to sort out pending land issues. But nothing has moved. “Unless we get a green signal from the respective administrations we are unable to install sewage treatment plants, low-cost sewerage and other units of public utility,” he lamented.