Fall at 82.600 at Saryu Nahar Pariyojna in Thakura Pur Village | Photo: Praveen Jain| ThePrint
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Bahraich/Shravasti/Balrampur/Basti: Passing through the sugarcane and mustard fields of eastern Uttar Pradesh, the 6,623-km-long Saryu canal irrigation project has finally become operational this month, bringing respite and cheer in equal measure for approximately 29 lakh farmers who will benefit from it.
The nearly-Rs 10,000 crore project was in the making for over four decades. First conceptualised in the 1970s, the project got stalled several times because of issues such as complex land acquisition and allegedly erratic disbursement of funds, among others.
The canal involves interlinking five rivers of eastern UP — Ghagra, Saryu, Rapti, Banganga and Rohin — through a network of canals to irrigate 1.4 lakh hectares of land in 6,200 villages. It passes through nine districts in the region — Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Siddharthnagar, Basti, Gonda, Sant Kabir Nagar, Maharajganj and Gorakhpur.
Starting from Bahraich, where the project begins, ThePrint travelled for two days last week along the canal’s route for around 400 km, crossing five districts. Here are some glimpses from that journey.
Minor head regulator supply water from main canal to small canal at Saryu Nahar Pariyojna. | Photo: Praveen Jain| ThePrint
Local villagers carrying water pipe to supply water in their field. | Photo: Praveen Jain| ThePrint
Local villager pumping water through a river at Saryu Nahar Pariyojna. | Photo: Praveen Jain| ThePrint
Locals villagers taking water to their field from the river at the canal. | Photo: Praveen Jain| ThePrint
Cattle drinking water from the river at Saryu Nahar Pariyojna. | Photo: Praveen Jain| ThePrint
Children playing near Saryu Nahar Pariyojna. | Photo: Praveen Jain| ThePrint
Construction workers going to work at Bhabhar Nala. | Photo: Praveen Jain| ThePrint
Ajay Kumar (middle), Executive Engineer, UP irrigation department with his team. | Photo: Praveen Jain| ThePrint
Local villagers crossing the drainage syphon at Kharjhar Nala, Saryu Nahar Pariyojna. | Photo: Praveen Jain| ThePrint
First point of Rapti main canal. | Photo: Praveen Jain| ThePrint
Tail end of Rapti main canal. | Photo: Praveen Jain| ThePrint
A view of Ban Ganga river. | Photo: Praveen Jain| ThePrint
A railway bridge over the river in Bhathar Chowraha. | Photo: Praveen Jain| ThePrint
A view of Bhabhar Nala. | Photo: Praveen Jain| ThePrint
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