Deliberations have been started to increase the area under irrigation through ‘micro irrigation system’ in Chhattisgarh.
State Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Brijmohan Agrawal held detailed discussions with officials on different measures to be taken for increasing the percentage of irrigation during a review meeting held here on Thursday.
The Minister emphasised on extensive use of ‘micro irrigation system’ to increase the area under irrigation. He said that the present irrigation system of the State is focused on a single crop and the economic condition of the farmers will not come at par with farmers of agriculturally advanced states unless they take up cultivation of two to three crops in a year.
Since water is needed for each farm, ‘micro irrigation system’ can help to increase the area of irrigation, he said.
Agrawal directed the officials that the design and drawings of new irrigation schemes should be prepared for taking up two to three crops in a year.
He instructed for use of ‘micro irrigation system’ in one or two stop dams areas of each divisional zones of the Department.
The Minister said that the report of stop dams filled with water throughout the year should be prepared on the basis of survey. With reference to the instructions given in previous meetings, Agrawal said that 90% of the target of proposed irrigation capacity should be achieved within two years.
He took stock of the status of major and minor irrigation projects and instructed the officers to upload the data of all schemes. Data of each and every scheme should be available online, he added.
Agrawal expressed dissatisfaction when officials failed to provide complete technical details of the irrigation schemes to increase the area of
irrigation. The Minister had instructed the officials for a field visit in each month but was not receiving action taken report.
For village coming under irrigation schemes in Naxal affected areas, Agrawal asked the officers to go for agreement with the villagers and take necessary measures to increase area under irrigation.