Chinese firm likely to sign MoU for Bhadbhut barrage

GANDHINAGAR: The project for a barrage on Narmada river near Bhadbhut village close to Bharuch is likely to become a reality soon. The proposed barrage has not only received environmental clearance from the central government but also found a partner - the Indian subsidiary of a major Chinese engineering company - for the project which is to be implemented in public-private partnership.
Highly placed sources said that the state government has decided to take up work on the project in public-private partnership. The barrage has received environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance not only from the state government but the same clearances (in-principle) from the Centre as well, said the sources.
"The Mumbai-based India Ocean Maritime Engineering Company, which is a subsidiary of a Chinese firm called China Harbor Engineering Company, has shown interest in the project. It is most likely to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the construction of the barrage at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit (VGGIS) in January 2015. SBI capital has also shown keen interest in the project," said a source. The total cost of the barrage is likely to be Rs 3,123 crore. The Narmada Control Authority's 'environment sub-group' has allowed releasing of 600 cusec of water for this barrage, the sources said.
"The construction of the barrage is expected to start in a few months time. Once it is ready, a six-lane bridge over the barrage will connect Dahej and Hansot. The distance between Hazira and Dahej will be cut by 24 km and the nagging traffic problems on the Bharuch-Ankleshwar-Surat stretch will also be reduced considerably," said another source.
Salinity ingress has advanced till Shukala Tirth on the Narmada riverbank. The barrage, once constructed, will stop seawater from further damaging local farming and water bodies.
"Freshwater fishing was a big industry in the area till the mid-nineties but the influx of seawater had reduced this to just 10% of its earlier size. The barrage is likely to revive freshwater fishing in the areaFurther, the demand for water from the Petroleum, Chemical, Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) and industries in Dahej and Hazira has increased manifoldThe barrage will be able to meet the water needs of industry too. The project is likely to be completed by the end of 2018," said the source.
The Bhadbhut barrage was envisaged in 2009 as a link between the industrial towns of Dahej and Hazira. Initially, it was to be taken up as a component of the Kalpasar project.