Haryana Government on Sunday announced to restructure and redesignate the Command Area Development Authority (CADA) as Micro Irrigation and Command Area Development Authority (MICADA) for the effective implementation of micro irrigation projects in the state.
This and several other decisions were taken in a meeting regarding restructuring of Command Area Development Authority (CADA) held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal here.
The CM said the aim of the State Government has been to ensure optimum and effective utilization of available water resources in Haryana. He directed that while implementing the micro irrigation projects, priority should be given to the areas having scarcity of water. Apart from this, farmers should be educated about the benefits of micro irrigation so as to encourage them to adopt micro irrigation techniques in agriculture to conserve water.
During the meeting, it was decided to ensure 30 per cent component of micro irrigation in MICADA works expenditure with 10 per cent progressive increase every year. Decision was also taken to formulate a subsidy scheme for the setting up of water tanks on farmer’s land, for agriculture crops on the lines of the Horticulture Department.
Besides, the work for the rehabilitation of watercourses would be transferred from the Department of Irrigation and Water Resources to MICADA.
It was also decided that MICADA would formulate a ‘Watercourse Construction Policy’ to further promote micro irrigation in the State.
The government has also decided that ancillary agriculture tariff would be applicable for power consumption in the micro irrigation projects and for the successful and effective implementation of these projects, demand driven approach would be taken instead of supply driven.
Apart from this, the micro irrigation based demonstration farms would be established to abreast the farmers with latest agriculture techniques and motivate them to adopt micro irrigation projects to conserve water.