The Chhattisgarh Government has commenced survey work for river inter-linking projects in the State, officials informed.
The Government has approved Rs 36.55 crore as the budget for taking up the survey work for three projects during financial year 2018-19.
A total of five river inter-linking projects had been prepared in the State,They are- Mahanadi-Tandula, Pairi-Mahanadi, Rehar-Atem, Ahiran-Kharang and Hasdeo-Kawai.
Water Resources Minister Brijmohan Agrawal informed that there would be total filling of water in all irrigation dams from river waters. The river-inter linking project is a task in that direction.
He said that during the current financial year, the budget for Mahanadi-Tandula link project is Rs 30 crore, Rs 1.55 crore for Pairi-Mahanadi link and Rs 5 crore for Kodar-Naini link.
The State Water Resources Department is also gearing up to inaugurate and also lay foundation of 72 irrigation projects worth nearly Rs 1400 crore in Chhattisgarh during the next two months, officials informed.
Chief Minister Raman Singh has been invited for inauguration and foundation laying of these projects.
It may also be recalled that the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) would lend Rs 29,245 crore for agriculture activities in Chhattisgarh with focus on 'Per Drop More Crop', Mudra and Skill India (MSME) and climate change in the coming financial year 2018-19.
The Chhattisgarh Government on March 21 , 2017 had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NABARD with the latter agreeing to provide loan worth nearly Rs 715 crore for completion of three incomplete major irrigation schemes under Prime Minister Agriculture Irrigation Scheme.
These schemes include-- Kelo Major Irrigation Project, Kharang Canal Lining Project and Maniyari Canal Lining, which are to be completed by year 2019 to meet the target. The completion of these projects will expand irrigation facility in 47,685 hectares, officials informed.
Officials of Water Resources Department informed that Central Government has included 99 important schemes in Prime Minister Agriculture Irrigation Scheme, which includes three big projects of Chhattisgarh.