The State Government has approved Rs5.34 crore for Pharaspal Water Reservoir project in Geedam Development Block of Insurgency infested Dantewada district, officials stated. The Construction under this scheme will enable irrigation facility for 249 hectares of agricultural land. This includes 202.50 hectares of land under Kharif crops and 46.50 hectares of land under Rabi crops.
The State Government has started constructing Anicuts in insurgency infested Bastar region to ensure adequate supply of irrigation water for the farmers.
The Government has sanctioned Rs5.14 crore for constructing an Anicut in Bakawand block of insurgency hit Bastar district, officials informed . The Anicut which will be constructed in Kokhkapal of Bakawand block would solve the water scarcity problem and also irrigate farm lands in the area.
The State Water Resources Department has released an order in this connection from the Mantralaya in Naya Raipur. After the construction of Anicut, it would increase irrigation area by 310 hectares. The officials have been instructed to complete work within the prescribed time limit, officials stated. It may be mentioned that the Chhattisgarh Government has set the target to develop additional irrigation capacity of nearly four lakh hectares area during the next four years, officials stated.
From 12th to 19th phase of NABARD Scheme, a total of 29 projects have been completed to add up 19,748 hectares to irrigation capacity of the State.
Betterment of agriculture-farmers is simply not possible without the expansion of irrigation facilities.The State Government has always taken it as its priority to ensure proper utilisation of water-resources for expanding total area of irrigated land in State, they stated. As a result of several measures, the irrigation capacity of the State has increased from 20 per cent to 34.20 per cent. During Kharif season, the actual irrigated area in State expanded from 5.35 lakh hectare to 11.70 lakh hectare.
Nearly 74.19 per cent of the total irrigation capacity of the State is being utilised for kharif crops, which is far better than many States of the country, officials claimed. A decade back, water supply for irrigation of only 11,000 hectares was available during Rabi season. Now the capacity has expanded by 10 times.
Presently, the State has availability of water supply sufficient for irrigation of nearly 1.10 lakh hectare of land. In Kharif and Rabi season, 67 per cent of the total irrigation capacity of the State is utilized.
The State Government has facilitated water-supply to agricultural farms through its eight big, 35 medium and 2390 small irrigation schemes. Construction of Anicuts and stop dams has proved beneficial for drinking water supply, irrigation, effluents and groundwater conservation.
The Government has given preference to construction of Anicuts and stop dams on rivers and pond. As many as 383 Anicuts have already been constructed on various rivers of the State. Presently, construction of eight big, four medium and 343 small irrigation schemes is in progress. A total of 325 new Anicuts are also under construction.
Out of the six barrages under construction at Mahanadi for industrial purpose, construction of Samoda and Mirauni barrages are at final stage of completion. Top works of Kelo extensive irrigation project in Raigarh have been already completed. This project has enabled irrigation of 23,000 hectares.
Hasdeo Bango Project is a multipurpose extensive irrigation project. Entire construction works under this project have been completed. As per the scheme, Hasdeo Bango project will enable irrigation facility for 800 villages of Korba, Janjgir-Champa and Raigarh district. From this project, another project called Arpa-Bhainsajhar extensive project worth Rs625 crores have also been started, which has created additional irrigation capacity of 25,000 hectares.
A sum of Rs10 crores have been provisioned for electricity line extension so as to electrify the irrigation pumps placed in water collection area of 150 Anicuts, constructed for expansion of irrigation capacity. To encourage micro irrigation, ‘State funded Micro Irrigation Scheme’ has been started. Under this scheme, farmers are granted 75 per cent of the unit cost. Ambitious Kelo Extensive Project of Raigarh district has also been completed and action plan is being made to supply water for irrigation of 25,000 hectares.
Kosarteda Irrigation Water Reservoir in tribal populated Bastar area of the State, which was lying under-constructed since long, was eventually completed in June 2008. This scheme created irrigation capacity of 9,500 hectares in tribal areas.
Farmers in Chhattisgarh have achieved considerable success in developing artificial lakes through conservation of rain water on Government land to irrigate their farm lands. The State Government under its Micro Irrigation Programme had been helping the farmers develop artificial lakes through conservation of rain water.
The objective is to develop lakes in villages which could help develop irrigation capacity of 40 hectares in each village, officials states. During the last financial year, as many as 70 lakes were developed by the villagers. During the last 11 years, a total of 1,430 lakes have been developed by farmers in various villages of the State. The lakes are now helping irrigate an estimated 31,572 hectares of land.
Taking a long-term view on development of water resources, the Chhattisgarh Government is ready with a Master Plan for development of rivers and other water bodies till the year 2025, officials stated.
To minimise the gap between developed irrigation capacity and actual irrigation capacity, old irrigation schemes are to be renewed. For which, Chhattisgarh Irrigation Development Project has been started with the aid received from Asian Development Bank, they stated.
Action plan had also been chalked out to utilise groundwater sources in Chhattisgarh. At present, 34.87 per cent groundwater is being utilised for agriculture and other works. Under various beneficiary oriented schemes, the State Government has provided irrigation facility for 12,625 hectares area through 2525 tube-wells, they stated.
Field channel plays important role in supplying water to fields for irrigation through canals. Using field channel system, wastage of water is prevented through lining. Till date, lining of more than 11 lakh meters has been done in various areas of Chhattisgarh.
The ‘Mutual Participation Water Management Scheme’ has been started to ensure participation of farmers in Irrigation Management. The member farmers of water consumer associations have been entrusted with the responsibility of irrigation management.