Irrigation facility in Bundelkhand region to be expanded: CM

Bhopal: Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan laid the foundation stone of Rs. 263.10 crore Pancham Nagar medium irrigation project at tahsil headquarters Batiyagarh in Damoh district today.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that we have started process of this project for irrigating areas under 57 villages in Bundelkhand region at present. The State Government will complete a number of such projects. Government will relent only every inch of land in Bundelkhand is irrigated. He said that a number of initiatives have been taken to reduce cost of agriculture production to benefit farmers. Loans for seeds and fertilisers have been provided farmers at zero percent interest rate. During previous years, irrigation facility was only 7.5 lakh hectare in the state, which has now been increased to 24 lakh hectare. Besides, efforts have also been made to increase irrigation capacity through Kapildhara and Balram Talaab schemes.
The Chief Minister said that State Government is with all sections of society but first and foremost with the poor. Shri Chouhan said that apart from providing food grains to the poor, wheat procurement price has been increased to Rs. 1500 per quintal by giving Rs. 150 per quintal bonus. Work is progressing fast for feeder separation to ensure 24X7 power supply in all villages in the state from June. Mukhyamantri Yuva Swarozgar Yojana has been launched to free youths from unemployment.
Water Resources Minister Shri Jayant Malaiya gave detailed information about the much-awaited Pancham Nagar irrigation project. He also informed about water augmentation works and irrigation projects undertaken by Water Resources Department during last 8 years. He informed that the President has given away Krishi Karman Award to Madhya Pradesh for obtaining 18 percent agriculture growth rate.
Agriculture Minister Dr. Ramkrishna Kusmaria expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for giving a number of gifts to Hata-Batiyagarh and Pathriya areas. He also put forth demand to open a college at Batiyagarh.
MP Shri Shivraj Singh Lodhi, Shri Rajendra Guru, Shri Lakhan Patel and Shri Vijay Singh also spoke on the occasion.
MLAs Smt. Uma devi Khatik and Shri Dashrath Singh Lodhi, Zila Panchayat Chairperson Smt. Anita Singh, Land Development Bank Chairman Shri Shri Narendra Vyas, ex-Minister Shri Gangaram Patel, other public representatives and large number of citizens were present on the occasion.