Minister directed to achieve Narmada Valley Project targets till 2020
Bhopal: Minister of State for Narmada Valley Development and Narmada Valley Development Authority Chairman Shri Kanhaiyalal Agrawal has exhorted Narmada Valley irrigation project engineers to make all-out efforts to achieve targets till year 2020. Shri Agrawal directed the engineers to achieve this year’s target to create actual irrigation potential in two lakh 23 thousand hectare area and then make preparations for making irrigation available in additional three lakh hectare area in Rabi 2013. Shri Agrawal was addressing a meeting of departmental Advisory Committee on Tuesday.
Committee member and MLA Shri Hitendra Singh Solanki suggested that canal works of Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar Project should be expedited. The construction works lying closed in the sections of main canal should be restarted soon. MLA Shri Radheylal Baghel said that suggestions of MLAs and farmers of Narmada Valley Project’s command area should be sought by convening their meeting.
Chief engineers threw light on the progress of major projects. It was informed that a target of actual irrigation in 33 thousand hectare from Bargi diversion canal has been fixed. Water will be released upto 155 kilometers in Indira Sagar main canal by November. This flow of water will irrigate about 9 thousand hectare area. Actual irrigation in 75 thousand hectare is proposed from Rani Avanti Bai Sagar Project. Construction of tunnel of Bargi diversion project is in progress.
Shri Agrawal directed to be fully alive to quality of NVDA’s construction works. Shri Agrawal said that Indira Sagar Reservoir has filled up for the first time. It will benefit in irrigation and hydel power generation. Hurdles in filling up of Omkareshwar reservoir will be removed and it will also be filled up in the time to come so that farmers can avail larger benefits from the project. Principal Secretary Narmada Valley Development Shri Rajneesh Vaish said that project’s construction works are being undertaken as per schedule.
