Prepare an action-plan for renovation of stop-dam built on Kharun river.
Raipur, 29 April 2020. Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has said that special attention needs to be paid to maintenance and restoration of irrigation projects with an aim to improve irrigation potential in the state. The Chief Minister instructed to get the work of canal lining and irrigation projects done with MGNREGA on a large scale. The Chief Minister instructed to construct water harvesting structures at appropriate sites in these rivers, along with the demarcation of the major rivers of the state, especially Kharun, Hasdeo, Shivnath, Arpa, Maniyari and to prepare an action plan for large scale plantation on both sides of the rivers.The Chief Minister directed to conduct the maintenance and repair work of the stop dams and anicuts on the Kharun river on priority. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel was reviewing the functioning of Water Resources Department in his residence office here today.
Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel said that special measures should be taken to achieve the actual irrigation potential of the irrigation projects constructed across the state. He said that to achieve maximum irrigation potential, attention should be paid towards maintenance of irrigation projects. The Chief Minister also instructed the officers to prepare an action plan for laying dykewalls and power lines at appropriate places on both sides of the state’s Shivnath and Kharun rivers. He said that with the availability of irrigation facilities easily to the farmers of the riverbank villages, the ground water level will improve. The Chief Minister also gave necessary instructions to the authorities regarding the prevention of water pollution of rivers. In the meeting, Water Resources Minister Shri Ravindra Choubey, Chief Secretary Shri R.P.Mandal, Additional Chief Secretary of the Chief Minister Mr. Subrata Sahoo, Secretary of Water Resources Department Mr. Avinash Champawat, Deputy Secretary Chief Minister Secretariat Ms. Soumya Chaurasia and other senior officials were present.
Water Resources Minister Shri Ravindra Choubey informed that in the last one year, due to the work done to increase the capacity of irrigation projects, more than 1.5 lakh hectare area has been irrigated in the last kharif season. He added that farmers of the state have also benefited this year in irrigation of rabi crops. Water supply has been made availlable for irrigation in 65 thousand hectare area, which is about 37 thousand hectare more in this Rabi season as compared to 28 thousand hectare area last year. He informed that from the irrigation projects included in the budget for the year 2020-21, it is proposed to restore the irrigation potential in about 77 thousand hectares and create new irrigation potential in 4.5 lakh hectares.
In the meeting, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, Mr. Anivash Champawat gave detailed information about the restored irrigation potential through irrigation projects in the state. He informed that there are 8 major, 37 medium, 2401 minor irrigation schemes, 727 anicuts and 30 tube well mini irrigation schemes in the state. The total designed irrigation potential is 19.55 lakh hectares. Presently, water supply is being provided for irrigation in 10.60 lakh hectare through these. Giving information about the efforts being made by the department to achieve the actual potential of irrigation projects, he said that its top work and canal lining are proposed to be repaired prominently. He informed that in the current financial year, the goal is to increase irrigation potential in about 2 lakh hectare area through the works of gap filling of irrigation, construction of new irrigation schemes, micro, solar micro irrigation, lift irrigation and link project and Kada drain construction. He said that during the Corona pandemic, the department has started works amounting to Rs 195 crore to give employment to the villagers in the village. In the meeting, water allocation through industrial barrages was also discussed in detail.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of major under-construction projects of the Water Resources Department, especially Arpa Bhainsajhar, Sondhur Reservoir, Bhatapara Branch Canal Scheme, Kelo Project and Samoda Nisada Diversion. It was informed at the meeting that for the purpose of drainage in villages, the goal of waterlogging in 5 thousand rural ponds is towards completion.
