JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Government has urged the Centre to give environmental clearance to the proposed lift irrigation project for Karauli, Sawai Madhopur and Dausa districts without delay to extend benefit to the drought-affected farmers in the region falling in south-eastern parts of the State.

The project crosses the forest area where it needs special concession, as the tribals and small and marginal farmers inhabiting the three districts depending entirely on the monsoon rains would stand to benefit from the supply of irrigation waters.

The State Irrigation Minister, Sanwarlal Jat, pointed out here on Thursday that the 1.04-lakh hectare land in 225 villages in the three districts, which would get irrigation facility from the project, had no source of water other than Chambal river.

In a letter addressed to the Union Minister for Environment and Forests, T.R. Balu, Mr. Jat said the Central Water Commission had given hydrological clearance to the preliminary proposal in 1997.

Detailed note

The State Government had prepared a detailed note on the project in 2000 and submitted it to the Central Water Commission. The project was subsequently amended following the suggestions made by several Directors of CWC, who examined the proposal critically.

Mr. Jat said since the major portion of the project would cross the forest area, the matter was handed over to the State Government's Forest Department for consideration. The Deputy Conservator of Forests, Karauli, has since expressed his inability to allow the passage of the lift canal from the reserve forest area in the absence of an environmental clearance by the Union Ministry.

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