The State Government has given administrative sanction of Rs 17.48 crore for Chatrebar Diversion Scheme in Wadrafnagar block of Balrampur-Ramanujganj district. This scheme will provide irrigation facility for 500 hectare area in kharif season, officials informed.
Meanwhile the Government also has given revised administrative sanction of Rs 58 .45 lakh for Khatutola barrage scheme in Dongargarh block of Rajnandgaon district. This scheme will provide irrigation facility in 1950 hectare area in kharif season. The Government has also given revised administrative sanction of Rs 72 .12 crore for Bharari diversion in Masturi block of Bilaspur district. This scheme will provide irrigation facility for 1940 hectare area in kharif season and in 300 hectare area in Rabi season.
Chhattisgarh Water Resources Minister Brijmohan Agrawal last month had also asked the Centre to solve problems arising in getting NABARD loan under ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY).’
He was speaking at a meeting of states irrigation ministers held at Transport Bhavan in New Delhi.
Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari presided over the meeting. Union Minister of State for water Resources Arjun Ram Meghwal, Chhattisgarh Water Resources Department Secretary Sonmoni Borah and irrigation ministers of other states were present at the meeting. The minister said that a proposal has been sent for acquiring NABARD loan for three irrigation projects – Kelo, Maniyari, Kharang -- in Chhattisgarh.
The Union Minister said the amount will be released to the state after discussion of the issue with NABARD. The state minister said that these projects will have to be completed by March 2019.
Agrawal said that ‘lakshya Bhagirathi Campaign’ has been launched in Chhattisgarh to expand irrigation facilities in the state. The union minister appreciated the campaign and said that other states should also start such campaigns on its own to increase additional irrigation facilities.
In the meeting, Chhattisgarh Water Resources Department Secretary Sonmoni Borah gave detailed information on irrigation projects in Chhatisgrah and efforts made by the state government to double the income of farmers in the state.
The Centre has set a target under ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana’ to double the income of farmers by year 2022. Under the scheme, 99 pending irrigation projects across the country have to be completed.