The State Government has approved Rs2.70 crore for the construction of the ‘Ram Mandir Anicut’ over Sakri river in Kawardha development block of Kabeerdham district. The State Water Resources Department had earlier sanctioned Rs2.63 crore for construction of Kanjheta-Kanhabhaira Anicut-cum-Causeway on Fonk River situated in Kawardha block of Kabeerdham district, officials stated. The construction of Kanjheta-Kanhabhaira Anicut-cum-Causeway will enable water augmentation in the area and also facilitate water supply for irrigation and other purposes. With the completion of this Anicut-cum-Causeway, irrigation of around 60 hectares of land through farmers' own means had been proposed.
State Water Resources Minister Brijmohan Agrawal has directed departmental officials to complete the work within given time-limit while adhering to the quality standards. The State Government had been encouraging people in the rural pockets to develop small water sources for irrigation purposes. The Government had been providing subsidy to dig small ponds and canals to increase the ground water table in Chhattisgarh. The scheme provides cent per cent subsidy to community tanks and fifty per cent subsidy to private tanks ( ponds). Agrawal said it is assumed that Rs20 lakh is spent on community tanks in plain areas and Rs 25 lakh on community water tanks in hilly terrain and cent per cent subsidy is given to citizens.
Similarly, Rs1.50 lakh is given to private water ponds in plain areas and Rs1.80 lakh to private ponds in hilly regions.The State Government's Drip Irrigation Scheme, Micro Irrigation Scheme and Sprinkler Scheme have greatly contributed in expanding the area of cultivation and yield of horticulture crops, officials stated. Under Sprinkler Scheme, total 38,995 farmers were benefited whereas under drip irrigation scheme, 9000 farmers were benefited. last year, nearly 16.98 lakh farmers received grants under various beneficiary-oriented schemes. Under Drip-Irrigation Scheme initiated in year 2005-06, subsidy of 75 per cent is provided to small and marginal farmers and that of 50 per cent is provided to big farmers for installation of drip instrument.
Till date, more than 38,640 farmers have been benefited under Sprinkler Irrigation Scheme and nearly 7,126 farmers have availed the provisions of Drip Irrigation Scheme. The State Government has set the target to develop additional irrigation capacity of nearly four lakh hectares area in the next four years, officials stated. 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.Betterment of agriculture and farmers is simply not possible without the expansion of irrigation facilities.The State Government has always taken it as its priority to ensure proper utilization of water-resources for expanding total area of irrigated land in state, they stated. As a result of several measures, the irrigation capacity of 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 state is being utilised for kharif crops, which is far better than many States, 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. 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 is utilised. The State Government has facilitated water-supply to agricultural farms of state 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 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. 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. This year, Rs 50 crore has been provisioned for modernization and expansion of the Hasdeo Bango project in Korba district.
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. 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.