The Durgawati reservoir. Picture by Sanjay Choudhary

Chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday inaugurated the Durgawati reservoir project amid allegations by its own alliance partner, the RJD, that the plant was not functional yet.

RJD senior leader and former state irrigation minister Jagdanand Singh claimed 90 per cent of the reservoir work was completed when he held the portfolio (from 1990 till 2005). “The canal is not ready yet, not even 10 cusecs of water can be released from the dam. If it is released, the canal will be damaged,” he said.

But the chief minister released 100 cusecs of water at the inauguration.

Water resources minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said: “We have lived up to the expectations of people after announcing that the project would be commissioned in 2014. The credit goes to former chief minister Nitish Kumar for getting clearance from the Centre and the Supreme Court.”

The much-awaited reservoir project was aimed at providing irrigation facilities to southwest Bihar districts — the state’s rice bowl. Farmers and 39,620 hectares arable land in Kaimur and Rohtas districts stand to benefit.

Work on the project resumed in 2012 after the water resources department complied with most conditions laid down by the Centre for environmental clearance.

The project was conceptualised far back in 1975. The Planning Commission of India sanctioned Rs 25.3 crore and then Union agriculture minister Jagjivan Ram laid its foundation stone on June 4, 1976. The completion amount has gone up and the revised cost is now Rs 988.1 crore.

A major part of the work was completed in 2005. However, commissioning was not allowed as Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 were violated. The matter went to the Supreme Court, which issued certain directives after which the Centre laid certain conditions.

Water resources department chief engineer (planning and monitoring) Indu Bhusan Kumar said: “The reservoir would only provide water to Kaimur district as only the left canal has been opened. The right canal, which would open after three months, would provide water to Rohtas. The areas that will benefit in Kaimur include blocks such as Bhagwanpur, Rampur, Kudra, Adhaura, Mohania and Durgawati. In Rohtas, the water would benefit Chenari, Shivsagar and Sasaram.” Understandably, the chief minister’s address in Chenari block of Rohtas district was marked by protests over water not being provided there now.

Indu Bhusan said: “Little bit of work remains. It will be resolved soon.”