Irrigation is crucial to make agriculture profitable in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Saturday.
He was holding a review of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department here.
He called for construction of wells and ponds in the lower part of the farmer’s field under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). It will help store rain water flowing from the upper part of the fields, an official statement said.
Baghel told Panchayat and Rural Development officials to ensure availability of pumps to farmers. The irrigation benefits through wells and ponds should be extended to the farmers holding land under the Forest Rights Act.
He asked officials to expedite the rural road construction in Bastar division. He said local youths should be involved in this task. This will help complete the work on time.
The officers were told to construct small structures on rivulets or streams for rainwater harvesting and ground water augmentation.
Baghel called for speeding up the construction of approved sheds and platforms at the primary societies involved in procurement of paddy.