Madhya Pradesh has set a new record in the country by ensuring irrigation more than designed potential from major and medium irrigation projects.
This year, 8.45 lakh hectare area was irrigated from 4 irrigation projects whose designed capacity was 6.55 lakh hectares. So far, 2.84 lakh hectare area has been irrigated from Chambal project, 2 lakh 43 thousand hectare from Rajghat project, 1.76 lakh hectare from Tawa project and 1.56 lakh area has been irrigated from Ban Sagar project.
Principal Secretary Water Resources Radheshyam Julania informed that under-construction irrigation projects are being completed on priority in the state. As many as 1170 minor irrigation projects have been completed during the last four years including 241 during the last year itself. At present, 663 minor irrigation projects are under-construction in the state. Of these, 150 will be completed during this summer.
Water was filled for the first time in 5 medium irrigation projects in the state. Along with this, construction of canal systems of major project is also being completed in phases.
With a view to increasing irrigation capacity, the State Government had resolved in the year 2010 to create additional irrigation capacity of 7.50 lakh hectares during four years. Under the resolve, target of 4.50 lakh additional irrigation capacity was given to the Water Resources Department. In fulfillment of the resolves, the department has achieved success in creating additional irrigation capacity in 4 lakh hectare area so far.
Similarly, unprecedented increase has been effected in Rabi irrigation area. From government sources, 16.34 lakh hectare area was irrigated last year as compared to 9.73 lakh hectares during the year 2010-11. This target was set at 20.02 lakh hectares last year against which 20.16 lakh hectare area has been irrigated so far.