The Chhattisgarh Government's Water Resources Department is in the process of preparing a comprehensive master plan for optimum use of State's water resources.The estimated ground-water in the State is 14,548 Million Cubic meters and present exploration is about 18.31%, officials stated.The State is moving ahead towards a more integrated and sustainable approach to water resources management.
Chief Minister Raman Singh has said that the State government has set a target of providing two lakh domestic tap water connections in the rural pockets of Chhattisgarh during the next one year.Moreover, in view of the summer season, the Chief Minister directed all the district collectors and officials of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) to pay special attention to provision of drinking water in all public places in the State.
He said that during the last financial year ( 2014-15), a total of 94,400 domestic tap water connections were provided in the villages through 2,400 'Nal-Jal' water supply schemes.The Chief Minister said that the new financial year beginning April 1 this year, a budget provision of Rs 862 crore had been made for ensuring better drinking water facilities in the State.
He said that a provision of Rs 5 crore had been made for implementing community water supply schemes in a total of 19 rural pockets of the State.During the new financial year, a total of 22 cities have been included in the water supply schemes with a budget provision of Rs 28 crore.Singh stated that during the last financial year, new hand pumps were installed in 2232 rural settlements and 734 schools.
Notably, 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 minimize 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 utilize groundwater sources in Chhattisgarh. At present, 34.87 per cent groundwater is being utilized 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.