State Aims to Double Irrigated Land Area in Next 5 Years.

Bhopal : Under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, the government is making significant strides in expanding irrigation facilities and maximizing water usage across the state. Aiming to double the irrigated area within the next five years, the administration has allocated sufficient funds in the 2024-25 budget for ongoing irrigation projects and new initiatives. This investment is expected to drive unprecedented growth in the state’s irrigation sector.

Water Resources Minister Shri Tulsiram Silavat stated that the state’s irrigation status was dire in 2003. Currently, the state has an irrigation capacity of about 50 lakh hectares. The goal is to expand this to 65 lakh hectares by 2025-26 and to one crore hectares by 2028-29. To achieve the ‘Per Drop More Crop’ initiative, 133 large and medium pressurized micro irrigation system-based projects are under construction. Upon completion, these projects will increase the irrigation capacity by approximately 48 lakh hectares. This system will help the state utilize surplus water from existing irrigation projects to develop additional irrigated areas.

The estimated cost of the Ken-Betwa Link Project is Rs 44 thousand 605 crore. This is a boon for the socio-economic development of the Bundelkhand region. On completion of the project, the facility of drinking water will be available to a population of 41 lakh along with an annual irrigation facility in 8 lakh 11 thousand hectare area in 1900 villages of 10 districts of the state. Apart from this, 130 MW of electricity will also be generated from this project.

According to the MoU of Madhya Pradesh with Rajasthan, there has been an in-principle agreement regarding the construction of the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Inter-State River Link Project. With this project, a new irrigation capacity of 4 lakh hectares will be increased in 10 districts of the state and water will also be available for drinking and industrial purpose. Irrigation projects are being implemented rapidly to ensure the utilization of 18.25 MAF Narmada water allotted to Madhya Pradesh by the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal.

After completion of all the irrigation projects of Narmada Valley, approximately 28 lakh 41 thousand 111 hectares of land will be irrigated. A provision of Rs 13 thousand 596 crore is proposed in the year 2024-25 for the construction and maintenance of irrigation projects.

The major provisions made for irrigation in this budget of the Water Resources Department include Rs 2860 crore for dams and related works, Rs 1197 crore for canals and related construction work, Rs 1071 crore for executive establishment, Rs 631 crore for small and smallest irrigation schemes, Rs. 200 crore for solar energization of irrigation and drinking water schemes, Rs. 200 crore for Ken-Betwa Link National Project, Rs. 116 crore for dams and canals and Rs. 110 crore for canals and ponds.