JAIPUR: Floodwaters which submerged Kawas village in Barmer district of Rajasthan during the monsoon rains last year have proved to be a blessing in disguise for agricultural output in the region, with a tremendous enhancement reported in the crop yields by farmers who obtained loans worth Rs.5 crore from the Administration.

State Principal Secretary (Urban Development) Lalit K. Pawar, who is in charge of Barmer district, visited the region earlier this week to review the relief and rehabilitation measures. Farmers of Kawas, Bandra, Bhurtia, Mandpura, Chaukhla and Barwala villages told Mr. Pawar that the floodwaters had benefited their crops by seepage into the land.

The district administration had sanctioned crop loans to about 600 farmers in the region. The floodwaters that accumulated in Kawas are still being pumped out. Mr. Pawar was told that the removal of water from below the railway track had been speeded up.

Mr. Pawar noted that the traffic on the National Highway No. 15 would re-start within the next fortnight after the completion of repair works. He said the Avas Vikas Sansthan would complete the construction of 80 houses to be allotted to flood-affected families and hand them over to the Zila Parishad.

Loans

Similarly, the Rajasthan Housing Board will construct 353 houses by March-end.

The Principal Secretary also disbursed low-interest loans worth Rs.14.60 lakhs for self-employment to the villagers at a camp organised by the Barmer Central Cooperative Bank.

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