Rajya Sabha MP Mahesh Poddar has suggested adopting 'Built and Operate' formula like National Highways to complete the major pending multipurpose projects of Jharkhand. Poddar has written to Dr. Rajeev Kumar, Vice Chairman, Niti Aayog and NK Singh, Chairman, 15th Finance Commission on the issue.
In his letter, Poddar has stated that out of the total geographical area of Jharkhand of 79.70 lakh hectares only 29.74 lakh hectares of land is cultivable out of which only 9.92 lakh hectares of land has irrigation facilities. Maximum farmers in Jharkhand are marginal, whose holdings are small but 72 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture. For want of water, single crop cultivation is done in most areas of the State.
Therefore, it should be the top priority to complete dozens of irrigation projects that are pending from 70- 80s (from the erstwhile Bihar era) in order to generate employment, eradicate poverty and curb migration of people. According to the official report, irrigation can be done on 20 per cent of the arable land from all sources, which is much less than the national average of 67 per cent.
Poddar, in his letter, has written in detail about Swarnrekha Multipurpose Irrigation Project, Ajay Barrage Project, Gumani Barrage Project, Punasi Reservoir, Konar Irrigation Project, Upper Shankh Reservoir, Sonua Reservoir, Panchkhero Reservoir, Sukri Reservoir, Surangi Reservoir, Bhairwa Reservoir, Ramrekha Reservoir, Kesho Reservoir, Nakti reservoir, Buttan Reservoir, Raisa, Tajna and others. He has said that these projects have not been able to give the desired benefits so far. If this is the case then it can take 40 years for irrigation to all the farms. Definitely it is not possible to reimburse it from the State Planning Department.
While praising the farmers of the State, Poddar has said that at one hand for Rabi crops wells, ponds, dova etc are there, the farmers of hundreds of villages send their produce (green vegetables) to outside states. The result of the hard work of farmers is that in the state GSVA has gone up to 20 per cent. In 2015 and 2016, the ratio is 15.7 per cent and 15.2 per cent, respectively.
Poddar has requested that the pending irrigation projects of the State should be marked on priority basis and action should be taken in order to complete them respectively. One option may be that in the case of projects with Central-state partnership (financial support), the Central government should provide loans, support, grants etc along with the share capital and complete the projects pending since ages.
Suggesting the second option, he said that the success achieved in the construction and upgradation of the national highways has proved that the 'Built and Operate' or 'Turned' system is a successful experiment. In any situation, in order to fulfill the major irrigation projects, the State government will not be able to adequately implement the requisite large amount. If the private sector is to be a partner and the Central / State should pay them according to the irrigation / power facilities provided. So pending irrigation projects will be completed on time and regular maintenance will also be possible. Farmers will also be ready to pay some aided fee like toll charges, collected on high roads, if their fields get water.