Bhopal, Apr 2: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that agriculture could be made profitable by preserving available water. Water was never more precious as it is today. The water crisis could be resolved by retaining water of village in the village and water of farms in the farms. Chouhan was inaugurating a state level Jal Abhishek Sammelan at village Gamakhar in Ganj Basoda tahasil of Vidisha district today. The Minister for Finance Raghavji was chief guest and Member of Parliament Rampal Singh was special guest on the occasion.

Chouhan said that the need of the hour is to develop Jal Abhishek Abhiyan into a popular movement. Water structures have been constructed at a cost of Rs 2650 crore so far under the Abhiyan in the state. Additional irrigation potential for 2.5 lakh hectare has been created. Besides, one and half lakh nullahs, bori bundings and 40 thousand wells have been constructed. He said that over 94000 farm-ponds have been constructed with community participation. He hoped that this year also the Jal Abhishek Abhiyan would meet its targets.

Referring to the efforts being made to turn agriculture into a lucrative proposition the Chief Minister said that steps have been taken to reduce the cost of farming and to ensure remunerative prices to the farmers of their produce. The farmers have been given concession in payment of pending electricity bills. The Chief Minister said that the survey of damage caused by frost and hailstorm to crops is in progress and the relief amount would be distributed soon.

The Chief Minister dwelt at length on social sector schemes implemented by the state government including Ladali Laxami Yojana, Gaon Ki Beti Yojana, Janani Suraksha and Mukhya Mantri Majdoor Suraksha Yojana.

Chouhan presented sanction letters and cheques to the beneficiaries of various schemes. He performed the Bhoomi Pujan for construction of five stop dams to be constructed at a cost of Rs one crore. He also performed Pujan of 588 Kalashas under Jal Abhishek Abhiyan on the banks of Betwa river and handed them over to the panchayats.

The Chief Minister participated in a gram sabha specially held at village Gamakhar. He announced a high school; construction of a boundary wall around the local temple and various other construction works in the village. He also sanctioned construction of a piped water scheme and a stop dam on the occasion.

The Chief Minister performed Puja at Neelkantheshewar temple and released a book focused on Jal Abhishek Abhiyan in Vidisha district.

Raghavji, Rampal Singh and MLA Harisingh Raghuvanshi also spoke on the occasion. Secretary, Rural Development Waseem Akhtar threw light on the salient features of the Jal Abhshek Abhiyan 2008-09. The Collector Yogendra Sharma presented mementos to the guests. Noted dancer Ms Bindu Juneja presented a dance "Jal Aradhana".

MLA Gurucharan Singh; zila panchayat president Raghuveer Singh Raghuvanshi; Commissioner, Bhopal division Pukhraj Maru and people in large number were also present on the occasion.