Orissa to observe 2008 as year of irrigation: CM
Bhubaneswar (PTI): Declaring 2008 as the "Year of Irrigation", Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday unfolded a Rs 2,000 crore package for the farmers assuring water to every agricultural field in the state.
"Water to all agricultural field will be our top priority during 2008," Patnaik told reporters, adding that a minimum of Rs five lakh would be spent for providing water to a village where 35 per cent of the agricultural land remained non- irrigated.
Patnaik said the government had decided to set up at least 1,000 Minor Irrigation Projects (MIP) and lift irrigation points during 2008 to ensure that all the fields get water.
"At least Rs 2,000 crore will be spent on improving the irrigation facilities in the state," the chief minister said, adding that some of the irrigation projects would be funded by NABARD.
The government has decided to undertake lining works in certain canals where water leakage were reported earlier, senior officials of the water resources department said.
"The aim is to ensure that the farmer at the tail end of the canal system gets irrigation facilities," Patnaik said.
Agri. & Commodities
