CM okays Rs 40 cr for lift irrigation

Chandigarh, February 11

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Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar yesterday approved Rs40 crore for strengthening the lift irrigation system in water-deficit areas of southern Haryana, particularly Mahendragarh. He also ordered the revival of about 10,000 abandoned village ponds and a detailed survey for the construction of check dams at Shivalik foothills.

Presiding over a meeting of the Irrigation Department, Khattar said  the state government was committed to providing water supply to the tail-end in the state.

The sum of Rs40 crore would be utilised for replacing major old pump sets at Jawahar Lal Nehru Feeder- 1 and 2 for strengthening the lift irrigation system in southern Haryana. These pumps would be replaced within six months.

The CM said old abandoned village ponds (johds) would be revived and utilised as water bodies for storing surplus water for recharging and developing minor irrigation schemes for irrigation of adjoining areas. There were about 20,000 village ponds in the state of which nearly 10,000 were lying abandoned.

He also directed the department to carry out a detailed survey to identify places for the construction of check dams at Shivalik foothills to utilise stored water for irrigation.  He also ordered the constitution of a committee to identify the water bodies for desilting in a time-bound and phased manner. — TNS