Bhavnagar: A long-pending issue related to the Methala Bandhara project in Bhavnagar has been resolved, paving the way for irrigation benefits to 6,550 hectares of land in 10 villages, along with measures for salinity control, state ministers said on Wednesday.

Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia said the project, which had remained stalled for years due to forest land issues, has now received clearance. The Methala Bandhara, proposed on the Bagad River near Methala village in Talaja taluka, will help store rainwater and prevent seawater ingress, thereby reducing salinity in the region.

He said 598.2427 hectares of forest land falling under the project area will be submerged due to the dam. As part of the clearance process, the Forest Department has been allotted an equal extent of 598.2427 hectares of non-forest land at Monpur village in Vallabhipur taluka. The land transfer was approved following in-principle clearance granted by the Central Government on March 15, 2024.

Modhwadia added that the land allotted at Monpur is located near Velavadar National Park and is expected to serve as an important habitat for wildlife, including blackbuck, thereby strengthening conservation efforts in the region.

Water Resources Minister Ishwar Singh Patel said the state government has granted administrative approval of ₹285 crore for the Methala Bandhara project. He said the project is crucial for controlling salinity in coastal areas of Bhavnagar district and will enable storage of about 655 million cubic feet of rainwater.

Once completed, the project will provide irrigation facilities to 6,550 hectares of land across 10 villages, recharge groundwater, and improve water levels in wells and borewells. The dam will also help prevent seawater intrusion, which has been a major concern for farmers in the region.

Patel said the project, pending for several years, is expected to be completed within about two years after the tender process is finalised. DeshGujarat