Thursday, Apr 25, 2024 | Last Update : 03:53 PM IST
Delayed irrigation plans in Chhattisgarh get fresh lease of life
Agarwal explained that in many projects the work was done, but the canal work was pending as farmers had refused to part with their piece of land.
Raipur: The ambitious plan of the Chhattisgarh government’s Lakshya Bhagirathi Abhiyan to complete long-delayed irrigation projects has helped in completing over 100 projects that were stalled for close to four decades. Chhattisgarh water resources minister Brijmohan Agarwal told this newspaper that Panchdevari Tank which was started in 1980 was completed last year under the scheme conceptualised to bring about change in irrigation facilities in the state.
The Lakshya Bhagirathi Abhiyan was launched on April 1, 2016 under the water resources department and within just one-and-half years of its implementation, the scheme has led to development of irrigation facility of over one lakh hectares. Mr Agarwal said that under the scheme, 70 out of 106 irrigation projects selected were completed last year and the remaining will be completed in current financial year and many of these projects are 30 to 40 years old. “These projects were stalled after funds allocated were exhausted. In many projects 70 to 90 per cent works were completed but get stalled due to lack of funds to complete it,” Mr Agarwal added.
Talking about the reasons for stalled projects, Mr Agarwal explained that in many projects the work was done, but the canal work was pending as farmers had refused to part with their piece of land.
Another reason for delay could be because forest clearance was held up for different reasons or it could be delayed because finance department has not approved revised estimate.
To complete these projects, Chhattisgarh’s water resource department has created three-pronged strategy by roping all the concerned departments to complete land acquisition and getting approvals from the finance department for revised estimates. “In the first year our efforts succeeded in closing 300 cases of land acquisition and getting more than`500 crore paid,” said Mr Agarwal.
Some of the key projects completed are Leelagar diversion project (pending since eight years), Manikpur Reservoir project (pending since 13 years), Makhuraha reservoir project (pending since 11 years), Chitakhol reservoir project (pending since 10 years) and others.
“By end of next financial year all the pending projects will be completed and with its success will help us to advance the goal of achieving total irrigation potential of Chhattisgarh by two decades from earlier target of 2048 to 2028,” he added.
