In a bid to ensure development of irrigation capacity on a priority basis, Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba held a meeting in his office chamber at the Project Building today. The CS said that the capacity of old ponds, big dams & lakes should be increased in order to meet the required capacity. Gauba directed the Water Resource Department that the schemes should be put into effect at the earliest to unplug the bottlenecks for related issues such as land acquisition and others.
“Out of the 30 per cent land that has irrigation capacity, only 12 per cent is irrigated. The department should soon advertise, promote and run the Kushal Krishi Pratha and achieve a 100 per cent development of irrigation capacity,” said Gauba.
He also directed the officials to prepare a detailed work plan for the unused agricultural land.
The Principal Secretary, Water Resource Development informed the CS that water has been released in some new ponds. It was decided in the meeting to expand and develop agricultural land in catchment areas of these ponds.
Meanwhile, Gauba said that proper arrangement for the proliferation of cooperative farming system should also be made.
In the meeting, it was decided to get more crops from the land in the next season and implement crop procurement plan so that the farmers can have buy-back guarantee for their grain.
It was also decided to propose work plan to get more crop under zero tillage technique in the paddy fields.
It was also decided in the meeting that fisheries should be given the status of agriculture and animal husbandry should be boosted up as a source of alternative income.