Encouraged by the positive signals he received from Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh in Delhi today, deputy chief minister Sudesh Mahto will visit the national capital again on October 22, this time to meet Union water resources minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee. During his meeting with Bansal, Mahto will seek early release of funds for the Subernarekha Multipurpose Project. The state expects around Rs 432 crore from the Centre in the first instalment. For the revised project cost of Rs 6,613.74 crore, the Centre will provide 90 per cent through the accelerated irrigation benefit programme. The remaining 10 per cent will be borne by the state. For subsidiary projects, Orissa is expected to contribute Rs 115 crore, while Bengal too has agreed in principle give its share of around Rs 19.5 crore. Bengal and Jharkhand have also decided to form a joint committee to monitor release of Subernarekha waters, which often lead to floods in the neighbouring state’s Midnapore district. Once complete, the multipurpose project would ensure irrigation facilities to over 2.75 lakh hectares spread over Jharkhand, Orissa and Bengal. The project, started in 1982-83, has repeatedly run into rough weather over various reasons. After becoming chief minister for the third time in September last year, Arjun Munda took up the issue with the Centre with renewed vigour. He also met the Prime Minister and demanded necessary assistance. Thereafter, the revised estimates were prepared and a significant breakthrough achieved with the Centre agreeing to bring the project under the purview of the accelerated irrigation benefit programme. “The groundwork will begin soon. We are only waiting for the release of funds. Now that the Centre’s attitude towards Jharkhand seems positive, it is better to strike while the iron is hot,” said Mahto, who heads the water resources department as well. He said the necessary paperwork has almost been completed and would soon be made public. “There should be no politicking on development issue. Let the people see where exactly we are lagging,” he added.