New irrigation channels in the pipeline

With an aim to ensuring that the entire farmland in the state is irrigated using canal water, the government has decided to dig new irrigation channels and lay underground pipes to create a 2,500-km network for the purpose. Twenty-one Assembly constituencies have been identified for the purpose.

The state government has set aside a budget of Rs 893 crore for the purpose during the ongoing fiscal. While it will get Rs 250 crore as special assistance grant from the Centre for the purpose, the remaining amount will be raised from NABARD, officials said.

This is the second phase of the AAP government’s project of ensuring that all fields in the state got canal water for irrigation. Over the past two years, the government worked on re-digging 16,000 irrigation channels that were closed years ago.

It is, however, learnt that the Water Resources Department is facing problems in securing CC pipes required for the purpose. Against a requirement of 6.85 lakh pipes, only 2.65 lakh have been arranged

so far.