Minister of State for Narmada Valley Development lal Singh Arya has said that the opposition to making available the benefits of irrigation to thousands of farmers from Omkareshwar canal is beyond comprehension.
Its opposition is unjustified as no village or population has been submerged due to the raising of the reservoir’s water level to 191m to release water in the canal. The State Government had undertaken aerial photography of entire submergence of unpopulated area on April 15 to collect proof regarding the impact of raising the water level to 191m. It is clear from the photographs that there is no justification of so-called jal satyagrah.
Arya said that the State Government and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan have proved their sensitiveness towards project-affected people. In addition to material and financial assistance provided under rehabilitation policy, a special package of Rs225 crore was also given to submergence-affected families.
They have moved out of the submergence area taking advantage of package. Only a handful of people are opposing it.
He further stated that interests of thousands of people cannot be overlooked due to such opposition. Chief Minister Chouhan has resolved to make agriculture profitable. For this, expansion of irrigation facilities is pre-requisite. The Government is aware of problems of thousands of farmers of project’s command area, who are distressed after suffering heavy losses due to recent hailstorm. Omkareshwar canal will provide them irrigation for summer crops.