Chhattisgarh govt begins process to inter-link rivers

The Chhattisgarh government has initiated the process of inter-linking of rivers in the state as a part of its efforts to expand irrigation facilities.

The water resources department (WRD) has initiated the process of inter-linking of rivers to boost irrigation facilities in the state, states Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Brijmohan Agrawal told reporters here today.

For the purpose, inter-linking projects have been drafted and survey is being conductedto link Mahanadi-Tandhula, Pairi-Mahanadi, Rehar-Atem, Ahiran-Kharang and Hasdeo-Kewai rivers, he said.

Agrawal further said his government is determined to double the incomes of farmers by 2022 as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
 

Several projects to enhance the irrigation facilities had been launched apart from schemes for the betterment of agriculture and farmers in the state, he said.

A proposed project named 'Chiraag' worth Rs 1,500 crore is one among them has been drafted for improving the economic condition of farmers.

About four lakh farmers' families will be benefited directly with this project under which 600 agriculture enterprises will be set up, he added.

The WRD budget had been increased by seven times from Rs 493.90 crore (2003) to Rs 3155.03 crore (2017-18) in the last 14 years, he said.

Likewise, the agriculture departments budget had been increased from Rs 183.98 crore to Rs 1887.64 crore during this period, he added.

The state had bagged four National 'Krishikarman' awards, of which, three awards were given for the record rice production and one for pulses' production, the minister said.

The state has also topped the list in distribution of soil health cards in the entire country. About 46 lakh soil health cards had been given to the farmers during the past two years in the first phase of the scheme, he said.

The agriculture department has been making efforts to convert five districts and 22 development blocks of the state as completely organic farming area through schemes to encourage organic farming, the minister said.