The State Government has provided administrative approval of Rs1.98 crore for Madwadoda Anicut Scheme on Kholar Nala of Katghora block in Korba district of Chhattisgarh. Irrigation of area around 80 hectares from this scheme has been proposed in the region, officials stated. Korba is the power capital of Chhattisgarh. The district comes under Bilaspur division and is inhabited mainly by tribals, including the protected tribe Korwas (Pahadi Korwa).
Korba is also blessed with lush green forest cover, where a sizable number of tribal population is found. The tribals in the forest areas live in tandem with the environment and have retained their distinctive cultural characteristics and traditional observances, officials stated. Officials concerned have been instructed to complete works under the scheme within given amount and prescribed time-limit.
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 for the entire State, 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.
The State Government has facilitated water-supply to agricultural farms of the State through its eight big, 35 medium and 2,390 small irrigation schemes. Construction of anicuts and stop dams has proved beneficial for drinking water supply, irrigation, effluents and groundwater conservation. The State Government has given preference to construction of Anicuts and stop dams on rivers and pond. Till date, as many as 383 Anicuts have been constructed on various rivers of the State.
Presently, construction of eight big, four medium and 343 small irrigation schemes is in progress. 325 new Anicuts are also under construction. The State Government has set the goal to develop additional irrigation capacity of nearly four lakh hectares area in next four years. From 12th to 19th phase of NABARD Scheme, total 29 projects have been completed to add up 19,748 hectares to irrigation capacity of the State.
During Kharif season, the actual irrigated area in the State expanded from 5.35 lakh hectares to 11.70 lakh hectares. 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. 10 years 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 hectares of land. In Kharif and Rabi season, 67 per cent of the total irrigation capacity of the State is utilised. 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 the State, officials stated. 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.