MAHABUBNAGAR: Minister for Social and Tribal Welfare D.S.Redya Naik said the Government was determined to provide irrigation water to some 8 lakh acres additionally in the perennially drought prone district of Mahabubnagar.

Addressing the gathering after unfurling the tricolor on Independence Day celebration on Tuesday, the Minister said that long-pending irrigation projects-Kalwakurthy, Nettumpadu, Bheema and Koilsagar lift irrigation schemes have been taken up under `Jalayagnam' scheme and they would be completed with an allocated amount of Rs. 6,200 crores to provide water to 8 lakh parched lands.

He said that about 6,003 irrigation sources in the district would be strengthened by allocating Rs. 106.5 crores under Rashtriya Samvikas Yojana, Triple-R (RRR) and Nabard schemes.

He said apart from these irrigation schemes, ten more lift irrigation schemes have been also taken up at an estimated cost of Rs. 9,408 lakhs to cover about 26,000 acres.

The Minister said it was proposed to provide Rs. 615 crores crop loans through commercial banks. So far the banks have extended Rs. 269 crores.

The district was selected under crop insurance scheme and kisan credit cards were issued to around 76,800 farmers. To encourage horiticulture in the district, Government is providing 90 and 60 per cent subsidy respectively to drip and sprinkler irrigation systems.

The Minister further said Government has written off the electricity arrears to the tune of Rs. 175 crores pertaining to 1.5 lakh farmers, as part of its electoral promise.

Later the Minister distributed assets worth Rs. 173.86 lakhs, to7,816 beneficiaries.

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