Staff Reporter, Bhopal Minister of State for Narmada Valley Development Shri Kanhaiyalal Agrawal has directed departmental engineers to take strict action as per rules against the construction agencies not giving results.
Shri Agrawal informed at a meeting of departmental advisory committee here today that as on January 2013, irrigation potential of 3 lakh 72 thousand 318 hectares has been created from existing and under-construction projects of Narmada Valley Development Authority. Against the target of actual irrigation in 2 lakh 23 thousand hectares during the year 2012-13, irrigation facility has been made available in one lakh 81 thousand hectares.
Shri Agrawal informed that efforts are being made on a war-footing to create actual irrigation potential in 2 lakh 23 thousand hectares area by March 2013. Apart from committee members, Principal Secretary Narmada Valley Development Shri Rajneesh Vaish was also present at the meeting. Shri Agrawal informed that efforts are being made to complete construction of Narmada-Kshipra Link Project within a year in accordance with the wish of Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Shri Agrawal informed that water is flowing till 155 kilometers in Indira Sagar main canal.
A target has been set to increase flow water in it till 206 kilometers by June this year. Tenders for Upper Narmada and Halon projects have been floated. Field-level works of these projects will be started during the year 2013-14. On MLA Smt. Pratibha Singh’s suggestion, Principal Secretary Shri Rajneesh Vaish informed that a Rs. 1404 lakh project has been finalised for irrigating Barbati area adjoining Bargi dam in Jabalpur district.
Under it irrigation is proposed through gravity flow without using lift irrigation method. As a result of it, farmers will not have to spend anything on power. MLAs Shri Lokendra Singh Tomar and Shri Hitendra Singh Solanki suggested to further expedite works of Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar canals. Member-MLA Shri Manvendra Singh and senior departmental officers also participated in the meeting.
