Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Brijmohan Agrawal on announced irrigation schemes worth Rs16.90 crore for Bijapur district as a part of 'lok Suraj' campaign. An amount of Rs7.5 crore was sanctioned for Usoor Canal, Rs3.75 crore to Kotampalli Diversion Scheme, Rs 2 crore to Modakpal anicut, Rs1.60 crore for Pinakonda Stop-dam, Rs2.50 crore to Marinadi anicut.
Agrawal inaugurated the Kisan sammelan and Exhibition at Bijapur. He called upon the farmers to grow guava, ‘sapota’ and other fruit-bearing tree. He was impressed with the quality of sapota fruit displayed at the exhibition. There are immense possibilities for the growth of mangoes and sapotas and in future Bijapur should have an identity of its own. Farmers should be taken on a tour of other districts to observe the agriculture pattern. Apart from agriculture, farmers should go in for dairy products.
The Agriculture Minister called upon the farmers to go for animals' rearing and form co-operatives and make it lucrative financially. They can improve their financial condition by growing pulses, oilseeds and other cash crops.
Agrawal called the officers of various departments and asked for the details of various programmes and ordered them to complete all the schemes on time. He distributed cheques and various items to the beneficiaries of many schemes.
The stalls of Agriculture Department, Animal Husbandry Department, Fisheries' Department, Water Resources, Health Department, Gramodyog Silk and Indira Gandhi Agriculture University Krishi Vignan Kendra were installed at the exhibition.
Agriculture Minister Agrawal sanctioned 31 development works worth Rs80.55 crore for Kanker district. He was addressing the Krushak Sammelan at Singaarbhat Krishi Vignan Kendra.
Agrawal, at a review meeting held at North Bastar (Kanker) district Zilla Panchayat called upon the officers to think and work out-of-the box solutions so that the economic progress of the common citizens takes place at a rapid pace. He was attending the meeting as a part of 'lok Suraj' campaign.
He asked the concerned officers to convince farmers to grow custard apples in the Kanker district. He instructed the officers to distribute 50 per cent fertilizers and seeds to the farmers by 31 May.
The minister sanctioned 10 new Krishi Seva Kendra for Kanker district. Cold storages should be installed to store fishes and vegetables so that farmers get remunerative prices. He instructed the Electricity Department officers to provide power connections to 1437 irrigation pumps within one month.
He asked the officers to build community toilets on the sideways of National Highways and provide adequate water facility. Toilets should be built at Schools, hostels, ashrams and other public places.
Agrawal stressed upon the need to train youth in electric repairing work, sewing, cow rearing and plumbing. He called upon the Water Resources Department officers to hold 'Choupals' at village-level once in a week. The grievances should be addressed as early as possible.
Collector Shammi Abidi gave a detailed account of the achievements of the district administration in Kanker. Agrawal sanctioned Rs 10 crore for the construction of Agriculture and hostel building at Kanker.