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 Hijli canal likely to be revived

30 December 2011

biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK, 30 DEC: Hijli Tidal Canal in East Midnapore, an important navigational route during British rule, is likely to be revived soon. The Haldia Development Authority (HDA), irrigation and waterways department, ministry of railways, and Planning Commission have decided to give it fresh life.
The 36-km stretch of the canal passing through Mahisadal, Nandigram-I and II and Khejuri-I blocks, from Geonkhali to Rasulpur ghat has been choked off for decades. The erstwhile Left Front government made plans to desilt the canal just before the last panchayat poll in its 35-year regime.
In 2006, legislation was introduced in Parliament to declare an old canal/river systems National Waterway Number 5. A 623-km network, NW 5 runs from West Bengal’s Geonkhali southwest to Odisha's Paradip, and within Odisha, from Mangalgadi (near Paradip) west to Talcher. It would include the Hijli Tidal Canal, the East Coast Canal, and the Matai, Brahmani and Mahanadi rivers. The cost: Rs 1,526 crore.
Mr Lakshman Seth, then CPI-M MP from Tamluk, also proposed in Parliament the reconstruction of Hijli Tidal Canal. Neither plans has been implemented.
The 138 year-old lock gate at the government dockyard at Geokhali is still displays its glorious history. The words "Govt Dockyard, Calcutta 1872" are inscribed on a steel bar that remains strong enough to fight corrosion, with rivets robust enough to take the load.
Mr Mamud Hossain, saha-sabhadhipati of the zilla-parishad, said the HDA has already sanctioned Rs 28 crore for the excavation of the canal from Mahisadal.
"The cost to excavate the entire 36 km canal has been estimated at Rs 60-70 crore and various departments will help to implement this plan. An amount from NREGA and the Jal Dharo-Jal Bharo projects will also be utilised for this project."
He continued: “Several thousand mandays will be created in the area for the work. Besides, the desilting would help the fishermen in a big way to increase their catch. Farmers will also get more irrigation facilities."
Referring to the huge potential of the Jal Dharo-Jal Bharo programme to reduce the severity and frequency of floods and droughts, he said the idea had been well accepted not only by the Planning Commission, but also by the district's leaders.