This story is from September 22, 2016

Monsoon hits Varuna Corridor Project work

The dreams of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to complete Varuna Corridor Project before 2017 Assembly elections may remain unfulfilled because of monsoon and floods.
Monsoon hits Varuna Corridor Project work
(Representative image)
VARANASI: The dreams of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to complete Varuna Corridor Project before 2017 Assembly elections may remain unfulfilled because of monsoon and floods.
In order to ensure that the CM formally dedicates this project before issuing of notification for the Assembly elections, the state machinery was asked to complete the model of project in 2-km area out of 10.3 km stretch by September-end.

However, the long spell of flood, which kept the level of Varuna high till mid September, did not allow the UP Project Corporation Limited and irrigation department to restart this project even in the patch near Shastri Ghat, where the project had begun in March.
Keeping the ground realities in view, the officials have now changed the strategy. When TOI tried to take stock of the progress of this project on Wednesday, divisional commissioner Nitin Ramesh Gokarn said, "Now, we are focusing to complete the model zone of this project in 500 mt as early as possible to ensure that the project is formally dedicated to people by the CM within two or three months. And, to ensure that entire project is completed before the commencement of next monsoon in June 2017, he said, the tasks like dredging and riverfront development would also be started in complete stretch of 10.3 km simultaneously.
With the announcement of this project in the beginning of 2016 by the CM, the irrigation department started the ground work, though its detailed project report was finalized later. The work on this project geared up after the Akhilesh government made a provision of Rs 25 crore for it in this year's budget. With the finalization of DPR, the cost of the project was estimated as Rs 20,049.14 lakh.
The works including channelization of Varuna in the city area, retaining of river slope and soil stabilization, construction of ghats and steps, laying HDPE pipe on both side of the river to intercept waste water and divert towards sewage pumping station and treatment plants, arrangement for bringing water from Ganga in Varuna through Gyanpur pump canal, making footpath, railing, lighting arrangement along the river in 7.00 km length and restoration of regulator.

Other major exercise to pave the way for developing the green belt as a part of this project by removing encroachment and illegally constructed buildings has also not gained momentum. Although agencies including Varanasi Development Authority (VDA), Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) and land revenue department claim that the works of demarcation had been completed. VDA secretary MP Singh said that a few buildings had already been demolished while demolition order had also been passed in about 12 other buildings. He said that notices had been served to over 700 building and land owners and hearing is taking place. He said that all those buildings and structure, which have taken place in green belt of the project without getting maps sanctioned by the VDA, would be demolished.
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