Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that Madhya Pradesh is rapidly expanding irrigation facilities, with the target of increasing the irrigated area from 60 lakh to 100 lakh hectares. He inaugurated the ₹2,387.60-crore Narmada-Jhabua-Petlawad-Thandla-Sardarpur Micro Lift Irrigation Project, which will irrigate 57,422 hectares across 260 villages and benefit around 72,000 farmers in Dhar and Jhabua districts. The Chief Minister also transferred ₹317.86 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for Rabi 2025–26 to 16.70 lakh farmers ahead of Diwali. He said that Madhya Pradesh had only 7.5 lakh hectares under irrigation until 2002–03. Following the change in government, the irrigated area expanded to 40 lakh hectares by 2023 under the tenures of former Chief Ministers Sushri Uma Bharti, Shri Babulal Gaur and Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Over the past two and a half years, the present government has increased the irrigated area to 60 lakh hectares and set a target of expanding it to 100 lakh hectares. When water reaches dry fields, farmers’ crops begin to shine like gold, he said, adding that the government was committed to development across agriculture, industry and every other sector, with farmers’ prosperity as its foremost objective.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that road, rail and air connectivity were expanding rapidly in the state, and Dhar had also received the benefit of a railway line. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had announced the PM MITRA Park in Dhar on his birthday, a major initiative expected to benefit around six lakh cotton-growing farmers in the Nimar-Malwa region. The park will integrate the entire textile value chain—from cotton to yarn, fabric and readymade garments—with products also being exported. It is expected to create employment opportunities for three lakh people. The initiative will help young people, farmers and women in Dhar and Jhabua find opportunities closer to home rather than being compelled to migrate. The Chief Minister said the Narmada-Jhabua-Petlawad-Thandla-Sardarpur Micro Lift Irrigation Project would irrigate 57,422 hectares across 260 villages in Dhar and Jhabua districts, benefiting around 72,000 farmers. He said that the Amka-Jhamka Mata site was being included in the Shri Krishna Pathey scheme and developed as a pilgrimage destination. According to tradition, Lord Shri Krishna married Mata Rukmini at this site in Dhar district.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that the government was advancing with the guiding principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. Dhar district had received development projects worth around ₹2,400 crore, including the micro lift irrigation project, the inauguration of four bridges built at a cost of ₹25 crore, school buildings worth ₹15 crore, a 50-bed hospital and other works. Bhoomi Poojan was also performed for 35 new projects worth ₹188 crore, including a girls’ school building, an ITI building and development works worth ₹3 crore at Amka-Jhamka Mata Temple. He assured that villages left out of irrigation projects would also be connected. Dhar would soon receive a medical college, he said, adding that the district’s Bhagoria festival had been accorded national festival status.
Government Committed to Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that financial assistance to farmers and beneficiaries of the Ladli Behna Yojana would continue. Under the Farmer Welfare Year initiative, the government had introduced a new scheme to promote milk production. Farmers establishing dairy units by purchasing 25 cows or buffaloes would receive a subsidy of ₹10 lakh. Increased milk production would bring greater prosperity to farming families. He also said that the state government had launched the Chief Minister Sugam Parivahan Bus Service, which would benefit rural residents, particularly during the festive season. Under the Swamitva Yojana, the government had pledged to provide 50 lakh free property registrations. This would give rural residents legal ownership documents for their homes and land, enabling them to become eligible for loans from banks and other financial institutions.
Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur said that the double-engine government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Dr. Yadav was working across sectors, including women’s empowerment and youth skill development. She said industrial investment was accelerating in Madhya Pradesh due to the Chief Minister’s efforts. With Dhar receiving less rainfall this year, the micro lift irrigation project would prove particularly important. She noted that the Jan Dhan initiative had enabled poor citizens to open bank accounts, allowing government assistance to be transferred directly to beneficiaries. This had accelerated implementation of welfare schemes and helped curb corruption. She also thanked Chief Minister Dr. Yadav for appointing new doctors in rural areas of Dhar.
Urban Development and Housing Minister and Dhar district in-charge Shri Kailash Vijayvargiya said that the Chief Minister had set a target of bringing 100 lakh hectares under irrigation. The newly inaugurated project would benefit around 72,000 farmers. He said an earlier government had considered the project impossible to implement. With continued efforts, every part of the state would soon have access to irrigation, he added. He also highlighted the provision of free food grains to poor and needy families under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Women and Child Development Minister Sushri Nirmala Bhuria said that the project would bring Narmada water to Dhar, Jhabua, Petlawad, Thandla and Sardarpur for irrigation. Under Chief Minister Dr. Yadav’s leadership, the state was progressing across sectors, with new recruitments in the police, education, and women and child development departments. New buildings were also being constructed for schools and Anganwadis.
Narmada-Jhabua-Petlawad-Thandla-Sardarpur Micro Lift Irrigation Project at a Glance
Under the Narmada-Jhabua-Petlawad-Thandla-Sardarpur Micro Lift Irrigation Project, water from the Narmada River will be released into the Mahi River. The project will provide irrigation facilities to 57,422 hectares across 260 villages in Dhar and Jhabua districts, benefiting approximately 72,000 farmers.
In Dhar district, 25,422 hectares across 66 villages in Sardarpur tehsil will receive irrigation facilities. In Jhabua district, the project will cover 32,000 hectares across 194 villages, including 17,802 hectares in 108 villages of Jhabua tehsil, 1,502 hectares in six villages of Petlawad tehsil, 5,504 hectares in 28 villages of Meghnagar tehsil, 5,927 hectares in 39 villages of Thandla tehsil, 1,185 hectares in 12 villages of Rama tehsil, and 80 hectares in one village of Ranapur tehsil.
Under the project, 186.62 million cubic metres (MCM) of water will be lifted from the Narmada River at Chandan Khedi village in Kukshi tehsil. The project will require 102.30 MW of electricity.
Water will be supplied under pressure of 20 metres through an underground pipeline canal system to irrigation units covering up to 2.5 hectares. Farmers will then be able to irrigate their fields using sprinkler or drip systems. This method will eliminate the need for field levelling and enable more efficient irrigation with less water, helping improve agricultural productivity.
The programme was attended by Urban Development and Housing Minister Shri Kailash Vijayvargiya, MP Smt. Anita Nagar Singh Chauhan, MLA Smt. Neena Verma, former minister Shri Rajvardhan Singh Dattigaon, MLA Shri Pratap Grewal, former MLAs Shri Velsingh Bhuria, Ms. Ranjana Baghel and Shri Kalsingh Bhabar, along with Shri Kalu Singh Thakur, Shri Nilesh Bharti, Shri Chanchal Patidar, District Panchayat President Shri Sardar Singh Meda, Shri Ranveer Singh and other public representatives. A large number of people were also present.
