Assam’s irrigation potential increases

Irrigation Department plans more schemes to enhance State’s irrigation potential

GUWAHATI, June 23: Assam’s irrigation potential has increased by 1.62 lakh hectares since 2011 through various irrigation projects undertaken by the Irrigation Department.

In a review meeting of the department held on Monday, State irrigation Minister Dr Ardhendu Dey said, “In 2011, Assam’s irrigation potential was 7 lakh hectares. By taking up various irrigation projects, this irrigation potential has now increased to 8.62 lakh hectares. This increase of 1.62 lakh hectares in irrigation potential is commendable but more work needs to be done.”

Irrigation Department secretary TC Das, chief engineers Kujendra Doley and Diganta Choudhury (minor irrrigation) and senior officers of the department were present at the review meeting.

The Minister asked all the officers to work sincerely and efficiently and to ensure that all projects are implemented properly.

Chief Engineer TC Das observed at the meeting that some projects got lapsed due to negligence on the part of some officers. He said, “In last year’s review meeting, some officers had cited few problems which they were facing in completing projects on time. These officers have cited the same problems in today’s review meeting. In the past one year these officers have not been able to find solution to the problems they are facing. No effort has been made on their part to solve the problems and complete the projects. This will not do.”

He added, “I keep asking officers to submit estimates of irrigation projects. But some officers have not even submitted estimates.”Das warned all officers of the department to work with sincerity.

Chief Engineer Kujendra Doley later told mediapersons that it was observed in the meeting that there was a gap between created and utilized potential in respect of irrigation through government schemes. The reasons for the gap were discussed along with the measures to be taken to reduce this gap. Some of reasons discussed were paucity of funds, lack of maintenance, insurgency problem due to which many irrigation projects could not be properly executed, lack of efficient water management, reluctance of farmers to practice double cropping or multiple cropping, erratic power supply and change of river course.

Doley said, “Future plans were also discussed in the meeting. Four irrigation schemes have been proposed to be implemented during the 12th Five–Year Plan to achieve creation of potential of 55,686 hectares. A total of 1,155 minor irrigation schemes have been proposed to create an additional potential of 2,78,646 hectares. It has also been proposed to create 1,500 numbers of water users’ associations (WUA). The gap between utilization and creation of irrigation potential has been proposed to be reduced gradually to 20 per cent by the end of the 12th Five–year Plan by taking up extensive programmes.”

Irrigation Department Additional Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia also attented the meeting and he asked officers to first complete the irrigation projects that were pending or had lapsed, instead of taking up new projects.

(Source) The Sentinel Assam — The Largest Media group of North-East India — focused on news publishing. Combined circulation of the group is over 120,000 newspapers per day, making it the largest newspaper group in the region. The Sentinel is the only English daily in the Northeast India with five editions published simultaneously from Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Shillong, Silchar and Itanagar. For all local, news from Assam, national and international news please visit http://www.sentinelassam.com/