The state government has launched a project for the revival of rivers in distress and of one water body each in every district.  The rivers to be revived include Gomati in lucknow which originates in Pilibhit district, Aril in Bareilly and Sont in Badaun district.  

The government has also accorded priority to flood protection work along Ramganga, Ghaghara, Saryu, Rapti and Gandak rivers and the construction of ghats along these rivers particularly at important pilgrimage centres.

Irrigation minister Dharmpal Singh said un lucknow on Saturday that the river revival project will be completed with people’s participation and their representatives and will be funded from the MNREGA.  

The minister said under `One drop scheme’, sprinklers will be installed at 33,000 state owned tube wells. and as a pilot project, one hectare of land will be irrigated by each of the 33,000 tube wells. “later this scheme will be extended to 250 lift canals,” he said.

“Drip irrigation would go a long way in boosting agriculture productivity thus adding to the income of the farmers. The government is providing 90 percent subsidy to small and marginal farmers and 80 percent subsidy to all farmers for purchase of equipment for drip irrigation,” the minister said.

For ensuring better utilization of funds for the desiltation of canals, drone cameras will be deployed and contractors engaged in the work will be paid only after a report by district magistrates. 

Singh said that during the current fiscal (2017-18) over 14,000 km of canals were desilted against a target of cleaning 16,818 km of canals, which is 85 percent of the target. 

The minister said that the department has accorded top priority to Ken–Betwa river linking project in Bundelkhand. The work   for setting up Irrigation fund of Rs 20,000 crore for ensuring water to every agriculture field is also in progress. 

Singh sid during the current fiscal so far, 168 of the 196 newly constructed tube wells have been energized. 

Under `UP participatory irrigation management act 2009’, election of water management committees would soon be held. The minister said that electoral rolls will be finalized by the end of February next year and election will be completed by June 2018.  

Singh said that the constitution of the elected water management committees would help in containing wastage of water and add to overall irrigation potential.