The Centre is working towards bringing 12 lakh hectares of land under micro-irrigation in the current fiscal, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Saturday.
Addressing the valedictory session of the fifth five-day India Water Week here, he said it was something which hadn't been achieved in the post-Independence era.
Minister of Water Resources Arjun Ram Meghwal also attended the event, besides senior officials from the ministry.
“We could micro-irrigate 8 lakh hectares of area in 2016 -17. This was something which did not happen in the earlier years,” Singh said.
“Now, we intend to bring additional 12 lakh hectares area under micro-irrigation in the current fiscal. That is, it will be 20 lakh hectares in two years, which was never achieved post-Independence,” he added. As he pitched for conservation of water and its efficient use, Singh also said the government planned to complete 99 prioritised irrigation projects across the country by March 2019. These projects, he added, would help irrigate a total area of 76 lakh hectares on their completion.
“You may organise several such deliberations. But what is the use if the topmost leadership doesn't act on lessons learntIJ The results have percolated downwards in the last three or so years because of our strong leadership,” he said. Meanwhile, Meghwal stressed on the need to be aware about the importance of water and its qualities for mankind. He said it was everyone's responsibility to preserve the precious natural resources for future generations.